Sticking with the Panda Reception Hall, next is the Rising Sun Pavilion, which again has 2 indoor spaces and 5 outdoor yards. Much like the Cloud Sun Pavilion, I had mixed successes seeing pandas here – I think I really just got there at the wrong times, but did try and visit in both the morning and afternoon. Last time I saw Cheng Lan, Chong Yang and Fu Shuang – this time Chong Yang and Fu Shuang are still living here but I didn’t really see them. Also here are Er Qiao (also didn’t see), Ni Xiao and her 2023-born cub and the Madrid Zoo-born twins Jiu Jiu and You You! After being sad that I didn’t see them last year, I was so excited to see them outside this time^
Ni Xiao 妮小 + cub
On the first day of my visit I spotted both Ni Xiao 妮小 and her 2023-born cub, named Ni Hao 妮好, sleeping – on the second day I didn’t see Ni Xiao at all, but luckily got there at treat time for Ni Hao! The keepers had placed some cut up apple onto the bamboo, making it a bit of a challenge for a little one to reach – he/she was doing a great job and made sure that they got all the apple. It was cute seeing a mix of methods, both pushing the bamboo pile down to get the apple, and then also standing up on the hind legs to reach higher – honestly so adorable and this isn’t something I’ve seen here before. After the apple was done, attention was then turned to the bamboo itself. I can’t see much about Ni Xiao online, but she spent some time living at Cangzhou Zoo, and it looks like Ni Hao is her first cub.
Jiu Jiu 久久 + You You 友友
I was so excited to take time to see Jiu Jiu 久久 and You You 友友 on this trip – I saw these two in their birth place, Zoo Madrid, back in 2023 and last year on my visit they had just moved to China recently and so I didn’t see them. These two were so cute and playful when I saw them in Madrid, and I’m glad to see them still living together now in China. They were quite tricky to see, they were mostly sleeping and eating quite hidden from sight, but I did manage to get some pictures. I am hoping on my next visit I can get a better view and also see some activity – the weather on this trip was pretty optimal for panda viewing, but these two don’t seem to mind the hot weather as it was very hot when I was in Madrid. On my first day of my visit they were both sleeping, on the second was when they were more awake – at the end of the day as I was heading back towards the original part of the base I stopped by here and got so lucky to see one of them wandering about. It was a super quick moment but I was just exactly in the right place at the right time for a sweet photo^
