Qing Qing

Basic Profile

Qing Qing (Chinese: 庆庆), studbook number 278, was a female giant panda born on September 9, 1984 at Chengdu Zoo. She was the daughter of Mei Mei (美美) — a different Mei Mei from the one captured in Meigu County.

She was the matriarch of one of the most prolific lineages in the Chengdu Base’s history, holding the world record for most cubs born to a captive panda.

Offspring Record: 9 Litters, 13 Cubs

Name	Studbook	Gender	Birth	Notes
Xing Xing (星星)	356	Male	1989-10-04	Died 2000
Ya Ya (娅娅)	362	Female	1990-08-24	World’s first surviving AI twin
Xiang Xiang (祥祥)	363	Male	1990-08-24	Twin; died 1996
Li Li (莉莉)	387	Female	1992-09-03
Jing Rong (京蓉)	388	Female	1992-09-03	Died 2010
Jian Jian (健健)	400	Male	1993-09-19	Died 2003
Er Ya Tou (二丫头)	401	Female	1993-09-19	Mother of Xing Ya, etc.
Da Shuang (大双)	453	Female	1997-09-01	Twin
Xiao Shuang (小双)	454	Male	1997-09-01	Twin
Liang Liang (亮亮)	515	Male	2000-08-18	(different from Chongqing Liang Liang)
Qing He (庆贺)	537	Female	2001-09-24	Mother of Qiang Qiang, Guo Guo
Qing Zai (庆仔)	575	Male	2003-09-09	13th cub

Historic Firsts

In 1990, Qing Qing gave birth to Ya Ya (娅娅) and Xiang Xiang (祥祥) — the first twin cubs in the world to survive through artificial breeding assistance. This was a landmark achievement in panda reproductive science.

On September 9, 2003 — her 19th birthday — Qing Qing gave birth to her 13th cub, Qing Zai (庆仔), setting a new world record for most cubs born to a single captive panda. She held the title of “Hero Mother” (英雄妈妈) at the Chengdu Base.

Life Journey

Qing Qing traveled to Adventure World in Wakayama, Japan in October 1988 for a one-year exchange, returning in January 1989. She was later exhibited at Wuhan Zoo (2005) and Changsha Ecological Zoo (2008).

At 38 years old, she was recognized as the oldest living captive giant panda in September 2022. She died on January 20, 2023 at the Chengdu Research Base.