Fan Xing

Basic Profile

Fan Xing (Chinese: 梵星, meaning “van Gogh star”), studbook number 1257, is a female giant panda born on May 1, 2020 at Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, the Netherlands. She is the daughter of Xing Ya (星雅, sb879) and Wu Wen (武雯, sb884).

Her name was carefully chosen: Fan (梵) references the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, honoring her birthplace in the Netherlands, and also symbolizes vitality and prosperity; Xing (星) comes from her father Xing Ya’s name, meaning “star” and representing hope.

Historic Birth

Fan Xing’s birth on May 1, 2020 was a historic milestone — she was the first giant panda cub ever born in the Netherlands. Her parents had mated naturally on January 18, 2020. Her birth was met with great celebration in the Netherlands, where panda fever had been running high since Xing Ya and Wu Wen’s arrival in 2017.

Return to China

Under the China-Netherlands conservation agreement, panda cubs born overseas are required to return to China. After a farewell ceremony at Ouwehands Zoo, Fan Xing returned to China in September 2023 at the age of three. She now resides at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base.

Basic Profile

Fan Xing (Chinese: 梵星) is a female giant panda born on May 1, 2020, at Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, the Netherlands — the first giant panda ever born in the Netherlands.

Her father is Xing Ya (星雅, studbook 876) and her mother is Wu Wen (武雯, studbook 890). Both were loaned to the Netherlands as part of the China-Netherlands conservation cooperation program.

Naming

On August 14, 2020, Ouwehands Zoo held a 100-day naming ceremony. “Fan Xing” was chosen from five candidates through an online public vote. “梵” (Fan) references the Dutch painter Van Gogh, representing the Netherlands, and also conveys lush vegetation and vitality. “星” (Xing) comes from her father Xing Ya’s name, symbolizing hope and direction — also evoking Van Gogh’s masterpiece “Starry Night.”

Sex Correction

In December 2022, during a routine health check ahead of her return to China, Fan Xing’s sex was discovered to be female, not male as initially believed. The zoo announced the correction, which made international headlines.

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Life in the Netherlands

Public Debut

Fan Xing made her first public appearance on November 20, 2020, becoming a beloved attraction at Ouwehands Zoo. She was the first giant panda conceived through natural mating in the Netherlands.

2nd Birthday (May 2022)

Fan Xing celebrated her second birthday at Ouwehands Zoo with special treats.

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Return to China

On September 27, 2023, Fan Xing departed the Netherlands. Ouwehands Zoo held a farewell ceremony featuring traditional lion and dragon dances. A convoy of escorted vehicles transported her to the airport, where hundreds of Dutch fans bid farewell.

She arrived at the China Conservation and Research Center and underwent quarantine. After completing quarantine, she was moved to a non-exhibition area for further acclimation.

New Home

On April 29, 2024, Fan Xing moved to the Hai Gui Yuan (Overseas Returned Pandas) section of the Ya’an Bifengxia Base, where she was placed in a visitor-accessible enclosure. From 2025, she has been residing at the Shunan Bamboo Sea Giant Panda Garden.