started · updated
Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrive at Zoo Atlanta
Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, arrived at Zoo Atlanta on Sunday, September 27, 2026, following a diplomatic agreement between China and the United States. The transfer, part of the “panda diplomacy” program, was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The pandas, both born in 2020 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, traveled via a dedicated FedEx Boeing 777 charter flight from Chengdu. Upon arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the animals were transported to the zoo, where they will undergo a mandatory one-month quarantine in a biosecure facility before being introduced to the public.
The 10-year loan agreement aims to support species conservation and natural breeding efforts. This arrival marks the return of giant pandas to Atlanta after the zoo’s previous residents were returned to China in 2024, ending a 25-year period of cooperation. While the transfer serves as a symbol of goodwill and cultural exchange, it occurs amidst ongoing complex geopolitical and economic competition between the two nations.
Entities
Atlanta · Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base · Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · China · China Wildlife Conservation Association · Donald Trump · Fu Shuang · Ping Ping · Xi Jinping · Zoo Atlanta