Meng Xiang

Basic Profile

Meng Xiang (Chinese: 梦想, meaning “Long-awaited Dream”; German: Ersehnter Traum) is a male giant panda born on September 1, 2019 (local time August 31, 2019), at Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany. He holds the global studbook number 1214. He and his twin brother Meng Yuan (梦圆) were the first giant pandas ever born in Germany.

Parents’ Arrival in Berlin

His parents are Jiao Qing (娇庆, studbook 824) and Meng Meng (梦梦, studbook 868). On June 23, 2017, they arrived in Berlin as special envoys (Sonderbotschafter) of Sino-German friendship, following the 15-year cooperation agreement signed in April 2017 between Berlin Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde and Berlin Mayor Michael Müller personally welcomed them at the airport. On July 5, 2017, they moved into the Berlin Zoo Panda House.

Meng Xiang also has two younger sisters, Meng Hao (梦好) and Meng Tian (梦甜), born in 2024.

Naming Ceremony

On December 9, 2019, Berlin Zoo held the traditional 100-day naming ceremony for the twin cubs. Following Chinese custom, the cubs received their formal names and their genders were publicly revealed. The names “Meng Xiang” (梦想, “Dream”) and “Meng Yuan” (梦圆, “Dream Come True”) were officially unveiled, together meaning “美梦成真” (dreams come true) — a blessing for Sino-German friendship. For local familiarity, the cubs were also given German nicknames: Pit and Paule (Panda-Zwillinge). The ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Germany Wu Ken, Berlin Mayor Michael Müller, Berlin Zoo Director Andreas Knieriem, and over 100 guests.

Global Panda Award

On December 12, 2019, Berlin Zoo announced that the twin cubs had won the “Annual Panda Cub Award” in the 2019 Global Panda Awards, just three days after their naming ceremony.

Public Debut

On January 21, 2020, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan began exploring their enclosure to adapt to the environment. On January 30, 2020, they officially made their public debut, appearing alongside their mother Meng Meng in the same enclosure where visitors could watch them through glass viewing panels.

Life in Berlin

Personality & Behavior

Meng Xiang is known as the more easygoing of the twins (by 48 minutes the older brother). Keepers observed that he prefers sleeping to exploring — while his brother Meng Yuan would be off adventuring, Meng Xiang could often be found napping or relaxing. He is described as gentle and unhurried in his daily routines.

In their sibling dynamics, Meng Xiang is the less dominant of the two — he generally cannot win against Meng Yuan in a scuffle. Their main keeper Yu Naibai (俞奶爸) noted that during quarantine the twins slept hugging each other and seemed peaceful, though subtle competition emerged over time. Food preferences also distinguish them: Meng Xiang is more eager for apples and wowotou (steamed cornbread), while Meng Yuan has a stronger sweet tooth for honey.

How to Tell Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan Apart

Since the twins often appear together in photos, the most reliable visual cue is their snout length (嘴筒子). Meng Xiang has a longer snout (嘴筒子长), while his brother Meng Yuan has a noticeably shorter snout. In addition, Meng Xiang’s overall demeanor is more relaxed and sleepy, making the longer-snouted, drowsy-looking twin likely to be Meng Xiang.

Birthday Celebrations

The twins’ birthdays were celebrated annually at Berlin Zoo with great fanfare. On August 31, 2022, their third birthday featured a special “birthday bucket” filled with ice, topped with sliced apples and sweet potato chunks, surrounded by bamboo shoots specially ordered from China. A frozen “3” made from beetroot juice (Rote-Bete-Saft) adorned the treats. The following year, on August 31, 2023, their fourth birthday was marked with a cake of ice cream, vegetables, and fruit.

Return to China

Preparations

In November 2021, the twins were weaned and preparations began for their return to China. Per the Sino-German agreement, cubs born overseas must return to China after approximately four years.

In November 2023, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan entered a one-month quarantine period. On December 8, 2023, Berlin Zoo held a farewell ceremony and unveiled a commemorative plaque. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner spoke at the event, praising the successful panda breeding program and the strong Sino-German cooperation.

Journey Home

On December 17, 2023, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan departed Berlin aboard an Air China cargo flight, arriving safely in Chengdu. Two German keepers accompanied them to help Chengdu staff transition the twins’ care routines.

Quarantine & Adaptation

During the month-long quarantine, the twins stayed together and were initially very harmonious — keeper Yu Naibai observed them sleeping curled up together at night. However, Meng Xiang showed visible anxiety, with keeper Yu noting: “You could clearly see the fear in his eyes — but his mouth never stopped eating.”

Despite the stress, both adapted quickly. Keepers report they were among the top bamboo eaters at the base. Yu Naibai built familiarity by calling their names consistently, and within days the twins began responding to him.

After quarantine, they moved to Activity Area 4 of Panda Villa 1. The adjustment took longer here due to the presence of other pandas’ scents, but still faster than typical for newly arrived pandas.

Public Exhibition

In February 2024, after completing isolation and quarantine, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan officially met the public at Chengdu Base.

Meng Xiang currently resides at Panda Villa 1 (1号别墅) at the Chengdu Research Base, where he continues to charm visitors with his relaxed demeanor.