Mang Cancan

Basic Profile

Mang Cancan (Chinese: 莽灿灿, nicknamed Mang Xiao Wu/莽小五 and Yuan Bao/源宝), studbook number 1269, is a male giant panda born on July 6, 2023 at Chongqing Zoo, weighing 191 grams at birth. He is the fifth cub of Mang Zai (莽仔).

Naming — “星辰灿烂”

His name was chosen through a public online vote announced on January 6, 2024. Out of 2,021 name submissions from 6,142 participants, the zoo shortlisted 10 names and opened voting to the public. A total of 37,754 votes were cast, with “莽灿灿” winning 13,072 votes. The name was chosen to complement his half-siblings Xing Xing (星星) and Chen Chen (辰辰) — together forming the phrase “星辰灿烂” (brilliant stars).

Siblings

• Xi Xi (喜喜) — older sister
• Qing Qing (庆庆) — older sister
• Xing Xing (星星) — older brother
• Chen Chen (辰辰) — older brother

The First Year: A Star Is Born

From his earliest months, Mang Cancan showed he was not an ordinary panda cub. By four months, he weighed 8.67 kg and was walking confidently. By one year, he had reached 33.5 kg and was already exhibiting the behaviors that would make him famous.

The Adoption (May 2024)

On May 20, 2024, Changan Qiyuan (长安启源) announced a lifelong adoption agreement. The adoption ceremony on May 31 included the presentation of a custom toy car, which became — and remains — Mang Cancan’s most prized possession. He sits in it, steers the wheel, and pushes it around his enclosure. The car has become his visual trademark.

The First Birthday (July 2024)

Chongqing Zoo held a full-scale birthday celebration featuring a “zhuazhou” (抓周) ceremony — a traditional Chinese first-birthday ritual where the baby chooses from a selection of objects to predict their future. Presented with a bamboo shoot, a toy car, a miniature police badge, and other items, Mang Cancan chose a bamboo backpack, to the delight of the crowd.

At the same event, he was announced as a participant in the “Chongqing Youth Panda Protection Plan,” a conservation education initiative.

The Main Character Era (2024–2025)

21 Hours Up a Tree (October 2024)

On an ordinary October day, Mang Cancan climbed a tree in his enclosure — and then refused to come down. He stayed there for 21 consecutive hours, occasionally readjusting his position but showing no interest in descending. The standoff drew local media coverage and crowds of onlookers. He eventually climbed down on his own, unhurried and unrepentant.

Traffic Safety Ambassador (December 2024)

On December 1, 2024 (China’s National Traffic Safety Day), Mang Cancan was formally appointed as “Chongqing 122 National Traffic Safety Day Promotion Ambassador.” At the ceremony, he was issued police badge number 010122 and presented with a custom miniature police uniform sculpture. The Chognqing Public Security Bureau’s traffic police detachment co-hosted the event, using his image for public safety messaging.

The Hotpot Dinner (Spring Festival 2025)

For the 2025 Spring Festival, Chongqing Zoo gave Mang Cancan and his mother Mang Zai a nine-grid (九宫格) hotpot-themed dinner — a tribute to Chongqing’s most famous culinary export. The “hotpot” was constructed from hollowed bamboo sections arranged in the traditional nine-compartment grid, filled with bamboo shoots, apples, carrots, and other panda-friendly ingredients. The photos went viral, cementing his status as Chongqing’s unofficial culinary ambassador.

Injury and Recovery (March 2025)

On March 3, 2025, while playing with his mother, Mang Cancan sprained his right hind leg and was observed limping. Zoo veterinarians diagnosed an ankle sprain and prescribed oral anti-inflammatory medication and topical treatment. He recovered fully within days.

The Bamboo Planting Project (April 2025)

On April 26, 2025, Mang Cancan participated in the “I Plant Bamboo for the National Treasure” ecological conservation event, where he was filmed helping (or at least, being present for) the planting of bamboo saplings in a new enrichment area.

Second Birthday (July 2025)

Turning two, Mang Cancan now weighed 78 kg. The zoo built him a custom swing and presented an ice cake decorated with seasonal fruits. His birthday was covered by local media as a major event.

National Television (October 2025)

Mang Cancan appeared on the CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, one of China’s most-watched annual television events, in a pre-recorded segment showcasing his antics.

New Year 2026

By January 2026, Mang Cancan had surpassed 80 kg. The zoo gifted him a bamboo sled as a New Year’s enrichment toy. A training video released by the zoo showed him performing cooperative care behaviors — presenting his paw for examination and accepting medical checks — demonstrating that beneath the celebrity persona, he is a well-trained and cooperative animal.

Personality & Quirks

Mang Cancan is described by his primary keeper, Zheng Qi, as stubborn, adventurous, and fiercely curious. He can walk on his hind legs for several steps, a behavior he seems to have learned from watching humans. He is comfortable with familiar keepers but will “turn his face away” from strangers until he has had time to assess them.

He dislikes loud noises and camera flashes, which can startle him. His favorite enrichment items remain his toy car and anything that makes noise or has a strong scent.

He still lives with his mother Mang Zai, and the two share a close bond.