Ji Xiao

Basic Profile

Ji Xiao (绩笑), also nicknamed “Xi Xi” (稀稀) and “Xiao Xiao” (笑笑), is a female giant panda born on June 5, 2019, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding’s Sun Nursery (太阳产房). She was the first captive-born giant panda cub of 2019 worldwide, weighing 166.8 grams at birth.

Family

Ji Xiao is the daughter of Ji Li (绩丽, studbook 697) and Mei Lan (美兰, studbook 649). Her mother Ji Li is the daughter of the prolific matriarch Cheng Ji (成绩), making Ji Xiao a member of the famous “Cheng family” (成家班). Her father Mei Lan is the well-known US-born panda from Zoo Atlanta.

Ji Xiao has an older brother Ji Mei (绩美), older sister Ji Lan (绩兰), and younger brother Ji Ran (绩然). Her grandmother Cheng Ji is famous for passing down the “little grey” gene (小灰灰), which causes cubs to be born with light grey markings that darken over time.

”Little Grey” Appearance

Like her grandmother Cheng Ji’s offspring, Ji Xiao was born with strikingly light grey fur — her ears, eye patches, and limb markings were a soft smoky grey instead of the typical bold black, as if “the printer ran out of ink.” This made her instantly recognizable among the 2019 cohort of cubs. The grey gradually darkened over her first year, eventually maturing into normal black-and-white coloration by approximately 12 months.

Life Journey

Nursery Days (2019)

Born in the Sun Nursery, Ji Xiao quickly became a fan favorite due to her unique grey coloring and lively personality. As the “class monitor” (班长) of the 2019 cohort, she was the first among her peers to learn to walk, showing early leadership and confidence.

Adoption (2019)

On October 21, 2019, Jiang Zhong食疗 (江中食疗) announced the lifelong adoption of Ji Xiao, renaming her “Xi Xi” (稀稀) — a name derived from “rare” (珍稀) and the company’s product “猴姑米稀.”

Move to Adult Enclosure (2021)

On December 19, 2021, Ji Xiao moved to the adult enclosure alongside Cheng Feng (成风) and Cheng Lang (成浪), marking her transition to the next stage of life.

Dujiangyan Panda Valley (2022–present)

On April 21, 2022, Ji Xiao was moved to the Dujiangyan Panda Valley, where she continues to live alongside Cheng Feng and Cheng Lang. She remains a popular figure among panda enthusiasts, known for her playful yet occasionally bossy personality toward her enclosure mates.