Fa Fa

Basic Profile

Fa Fa (Chinese: 发发, nicknamed Nai Fa/奶发), studbook number 931, is a female giant panda born on August 10, 2014 at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) Hetaoping Base in Wolong, Sichuan. Her mother is Na Na (娜娜) and her twin brother is Pu Pu (浦浦).

She has a round face and an elegant, composed demeanor, in contrast to her more boisterous brother. Fans affectionately call her “Nai Fa” (奶发, “Milky Fa”) for her gentle expression and soft features.

Siblings

Fa Fa’s siblings through mother Na Na include:

• Xing Hui (星徽), Xing Rui (星睿), Cai Tao (彩陶) — older brothers
• Pu Pu (浦浦) — twin brother
• Shun Shun (舜舜) — brother
• Pan Wang (潘旺) — sister
• De Rui (德瑞) — brother

The Gender Mystery

Fa Fa was mistakenly identified as male at birth — an error that went uncorrected for nine years. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, she was raised, recorded, and exhibited as a male panda.

In August 2023, keepers at Shenyang Forest Zoo observed signs of false pregnancy (假孕) — reduced appetite, nest-building behavior, and hormonal changes typical of a pregnant female. Puzzled, the veterinary team conducted a thorough examination and made a startling discovery: Fa Fa was biologically female. The false pregnancy itself was what finally revealed the truth after nearly a decade.

The story made national headlines in China, with many media outlets covering the “gender reveal” of the beloved Shenyang panda.

Life Journey

SPD Bank Adoption (2015)

In May 2015, Fa Fa and Pu Pu were lifelong adopted by SPD Bank (浦发银行). The bank later launched the “Pu Pu Fa Fa Guardian Story Plan” (浦浦发发守护物语计划) — a biodiversity protection initiative combining panda conservation education with public outreach, organizing themed events at Shenyang Forest Zoo to raise awareness about endangered species.

Move to Shenyang (2017)

On September 7, 2017, Fa Fa was transferred from the Dujiangyan Base to Shenyang Forest Zoo in Liaoning Province, where she has lived ever since. She was one of four pandas (alongside Pu Pu, Bing Hua, and Bing Qing) sent to Shenyang that year.

Life in Shenyang

Fa Fa is described by her keepers as elegant, gentle, and refined — a panda of quiet dignity. Her one exception is food: she shows a keen and focused interest in mealtime, and her round face has only grown rounder over the years. She has become one of the zoo’s most cherished residents.

In August 2024, Shenyang Forest Zoo held a 10th birthday celebration for Fa Fa, complete with a special bamboo and fruit cake, enrichment activities, and fan meet-and-greet sessions organized by SPD Bank.