Ji Li

Basic Profile

Ji Li (绩丽) is a female giant panda born on July 23, 2007 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. She is the first-born daughter of Cheng Ji (成绩, sb521), the famous “grey-coated” mother whose cubs are born with distinctive grey fur that gradually turns black. Ji Li is a core member of the renowned “Cheng family” (成家班), one of the most genetically important lineages at Chengdu Base.

She is known for her spirited personality — described by keepers as “spicy” (泼辣) compared to her twin brother’s gentle temperament.

Family

Ji Li’s mother is Cheng Ji (成绩, sb521), famous for her uniquely light-colored cubs. Her father is Lin Lin (琳琳, sb479), a male with wild bloodlines. She has a twin brother Ji You (绩优, sb670), and numerous half-siblings through Cheng Ji, including Cheng Da, Cheng Shuang, Cheng Dui, and Cheng Shi.

Ji Li’s own offspring include:

• Ji Mei (绩美, male, born 2016) — her first-born, twin of Ji Lan
• Ji Lan (绩兰, female, born 2016) — twin of Ji Mei
• Ji Xiao (绩笑, female, born 2019) — the first cub of 2019 globally, famous for her grey coat
• Ji Ran (绩然, male, born 2020)

Life Journey

Birth and Early Years (2007)

Ji Li was born as the second cub of a twin pair — her brother Ji You emerged first. Their mother Cheng Ji showed strong maternal instincts from the start, cradling her first-born so tightly that keepers could not immediately determine its sex or weight. The twins were named “Ji You” (绩优, “excellent achievement”) and “Ji Li” (绩丽, “beautiful achievement”), following the naming pattern set by Cheng Ji.

Loan to Xiamen (2011–2012)

From December 2011 to October 2012, Ji Li was loaned to the Xiamen Haicang Safari Park in Fujian Province, where she served as an ambassador for the species before returning to Chengdu Base.

Motherhood (2016–present)

On June 27, 2016, Ji Li gave birth to her first litter — a male and female twin. True to her Cheng Ji heritage, the cubs displayed the characteristic grey coat that made the family famous. The male was named Ji Mei (绩美) and the female Ji Lan (绩兰). Despite being a first-time mother, Ji Li demonstrated exceptional maternal care, immediately cradling the larger cub while keepers attended to the smaller one.

In 2019, Ji Li gave birth to Ji Xiao (绩笑), who became an internet sensation as the first giant panda cub born anywhere in the world that year. Ji Xiao’s strikingly grey fur attracted global media attention.

Her fourth cub, Ji Ran (绩然), was born in 2020.

Significance

Ji Li belongs to the “Olympic” lineage (科氏家族) through her grandfather Ke Bi (科比), a panda named by IOC President Samaranch after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics mascot. As the eldest daughter of Cheng Ji, she is a key carrier of the unique “grey coat” gene and has passed it to multiple offspring. She continues to live at the Chengdu Research Base, where she remains one of the most popular attractions.