The Starry Sky Pavilion in the Panda Forest Area was definitely a highlight of my 2024 trip, and this time it was a fantastic spot for good panda viewing! Last time there were only pandas inside, this time I saw pandas both inside (although only in one space of the three) and outside – the outdoor yards here are pretty huge and are again quite varied, and viewing is pretty good, none of the yards are through glass although if the pandas are sitting near the building, then from the outdoor viewing path they are quite far away. There are 3 indoor spaces and 6 outdoor yards here – I saw a total of 10 pandas, so if you want to see a lot in one place, this is a good bet to go with! First up, the solo pandas I saw in this pavillion:

Back last year when I visited I spotted two 2023-born cubs together in the Star Nursery House and they were absolute cuties – this year I think I spotted these two all grown up almost a year later^ A very kind and helpful Instagram follower let me know that I saw Lun Wu 轮武 (Zoo Atlanta-born Mei Lun‘s son) and Jin Dou 金豆, who were raised together by Jin Dou‘s mum Zhao Mei (who I saw the sign for on a yard, but didn’t see her). Lun Wu has a twin sister, Lun Wen 轮文, who was raised alongside Xing Yun 星运 by Xing Yun‘s mum Ya Yun (a different Ya Yun to the one I saw in the Moon Nursery on this trip). The conclusion is that I think I saw Lun Wu and Jin Dou again this year – unfortunately there were no signs at the yard, and on the first say of my visit I didn’t see any pandas in this yard, and only very luckily went past on the second day and happened to see these two!

Lun Wu is the panda with the very fluffy round face – he seems a bit more shy and reserved, preferring to stay closer to the back of the yard and more hidden amongst the plants. Jin Dou is the panda who spent most of the day all the way up in the tree and only coming down when the keeper threw in some more bamboo! It was very cute seeing bamboo being collected quickly and then taken all the way up the tree to eat, it’s some skill being able to carry a mouthful of bamboo stems all the way up a tree^ I got lucky towards the end of the afternoon and Lun Wu had settled onto the wooden chair in a relatively plant-less view in the middle of the yard and could get some good photos – this yard is large and has a lot of plants, so it was quite tricky to get photos if the pandas were further back or slightly hidden from view. Then I ended the day seeing both of them settled in for a snooze up the same tree despite there being plenty of tree choices – so cute =D

The final mum with a cub to share from the Star Nursery House – Miao Miao and her 2024-born male cub Jin Rui 金瑞! I only saw this duo on the second day of my visit, living in the yard that I saw Xiu Qui and her cub the previous day. Earlier in the day it was very similar to Xiu Qiu and her cub – Miao Miao was sitting almost in the same spot and enjoying bamboo while cub Jin Rui was up on the platform, hidden behind the tree. A large school group went past and completely missed seeing him! But I waited a while and patience paid off because not long after the cub found some energy and climbed out between the fork in the tree looking a bit sleepy still with a bit of ‘bed head’ fur – too cute^ I love this little cub’s fur, it looks super fluffy. When I went back later in the afternoon it was back to nap time for baby, but Miao Miao was in position at the front with fresh bamboo and I got some lovely photos of her, especially the last one in the post, such a beautiful round fuzzy face =)

Miao Miao has a number of siblings on both her parents sides, but notably she is sister with Yuan Run, another firm favourite recognisable panda of the trip too, and actually as a cub she was raised alongside Yuan Run by her mum Yuan Yuan. Despite being only 12.5 years old, she is quite an experienced mother, having had cubs in 2018, 2020 and now this one in 2024. One of her 2020-born twins, Jin Xi, has also become the new male living at Zoo Madrid.

The third mum I saw was Xiu Qiu 绣球 with her 2024-born cub female Xiu Li 绣丽 – I only saw this pair on the first day of my visit, but I saw Xiu Qiu on my visit last year in this area. One thing I quite liked was that they were in a yard that was a little tucked away so there weren’t many people there and it wasn’t on a main route through the area like most of the other yards are in the Star Nursery House. For ages at the yard I only saw Xiu Qiu, and it was only when I was walking away and looked back that the cub appeared from behind the tree way up on the platform! I think lots of other visitors walked past without seeing her. Initially Xiu Qiu was sitting in a huge bamboo pile, making quick work of it, but after I saw the cub, she then also got up herself, had a small walk around the yard, then headed up the ladder to check on her baby – so sweet! The pair rolled around for a bit – baby was not wanting to be cuddled and wanted some freedom I think, but eventually mum got her way and they cuddled together up on the platform.

I quite liked this yard for it’s slightly smaller size, so technically should be easy to spot the panda in, but it also has a very nice climbing frame along with some rocks and a slightly hilly terrain. The only downside is that the viewing has a lot of glass windows – so the best view to see them together on the platform was through glass and it was quite tricky not to catch the reflection or a dirty smudge on the glass. There is an open section, although a lot of the space is stairs, so not ideal – I was just glad it wasn’t super busy so everyone could get into the optimal spot and get their photos.

Xiu Qiu also is a panda who has moved her from CCRCGP, she was born to mum Shui Xiu who I saw last year, and I very much think she has inherited her mums round fluffiness^ Xiu Qui had her first cub in 2021 (who I saw at Wolong Shenshuping last year too!), then moved to the Chengdu Base in 2023, before her second successful pregnancy in 2024. I’m sure she has many more cubs to come in the future too.

Next up in the Star Nursery House was Ni Da 妮大 and her 2024-born twins, who are potentially female Hao Yu 好钰 and male Hao Yan 好琰 – I have to say, I saw lots of the twins and not very much at all of Ni Da, I only spotted her quite briefly on the first day when she was sitting a bit deeper into the yard eating. The twins, however were very happy to be on show! These two were always up high and this yard has so many climbing options for them – although these trees don’t look too comfy to me, the cubs were loving it! One cub was particularly loving a tree with lots of branches and I have no idea how they found a seat amongst them. Anyway, these two were absolute cuties and everyone was rushing over to see them and loved watching them. Apparently Ni Da loved climbing trees too when she was a cub. Ni Da has a few siblings, some who I have also seen (Ni Xiao with her 2023-born cub on this trip!), and these twins are her first pregnancy. From pictures online she looks very cute so maybe next time I’ll get to see a bit more of her!