Rong Rong

Basic Profile

Rong Rong (荣荣), whose former name was “Jin Xiao Qi” (锦小七, meaning “Little Seven of the Golden Series”), is a male giant panda born on July 27, 2022, at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center in Shaanxi Province. He is the son of the world’s only captive brown-and-white giant panda, Qi Zai (七仔, #802).

Birth and Naming History

Original Name

Rong Rong was originally named “Jin Xiao Qi” (锦小七), with the “Jin” (锦) referring to his mother Jin Xin (锦心), and “Xiao Qi” (小七) referencing his father Qi Zai (七仔, “Number Seven”).

Official Renaming

On October 29, 2023, during a special adoption ceremony at the Qinling Sibao Science Park, Peihua Group (沛华集团) announced the lifetime adoption of Rong Rong. At this ceremony, he was officially renamed “Rong Rong” (荣荣, meaning “Glory” or “Honor”), symbolizing his status as a precious national treasure.

The ceremony, themed “Qin Pei同行 与有荣焉” (Traveling Together with Qin and Pei, Sharing the Honor), celebrated the partnership between Peihua Group and the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center.

Family & Lineage

Parentage

• Father: Qi Zai (七仔, #802) — The world’s only captive brown-and-white giant panda
• Mother: Jin Xin (锦心) — A female giant panda in the Qinling breeding program

Siblings

Rong Rong shares the same mother, Jin Xin, with:

• Qian Bao (倩宝) — Older brother
• Zhi Lu (知路) — Older brother

Half-Siblings

Rong Rong shares the same father, Qi Zai, with:

• Ba Zai (八仔, #1260) — Born July 16, 2021, at Qinling Research Center
• Qin Hua (秦华) — Older half-sibling

Genetic Carrier Status

According to research published in 2024, Rong Rong carries the recessive Bace2 gene mutation that causes brown-and-white coloring in giant pandas. While he himself displays the typical black-and-white coat, this genetic trait can be passed to his offspring, making him valuable for future breeding programs and conservation genetics research.

Peihua Group Adoption

The Partnership

On October 29, 2023, Peihua Transport International Logistics (China) Co., Ltd. (沛华运通国际物流（中国）有限公司) announced a lifetime adoption of Rong Rong at the Qinling Sibao Science Park.

Ceremony Details

The adoption ceremony featured:

• Official naming of “Rong Rong”
• Presentation of adoption certificates
• Introduction of Rong Rong’s personality and characteristics
• Partnership signing between Peihua Group and the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center

Rong Rong’s Profile at Adoption

At the time of adoption:

• Age: 1 year and 3 months
• Weight: 40.6 kg
• Personality: Cheerful, affectionate, enjoys being close to caretakers

Physical Development

Growth Milestones

Date	Age	Weight	Notes
October 2023	15 months	40.6 kg	At adoption
July 2024	2 years	—	Birthday celebration

Appearance

Rong Rong displays the typical black-and-white coloring of giant pandas, with:

• Well-proportioned body
• Expressive eyes
• A friendly and approachable demeanor

Second Birthday Celebration

July 27, 2024

Rong Rong celebrated his 2nd birthday at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center. The celebration featured:

Birthday “Cake” The conservation team prepared a special birthday cake consisting of:

• Fresh flowers
• Watermelon
• Carrots
• Other panda-friendly fruits and vegetables

Special Guest The birthday celebration was shared with another panda, as the team invited Ai Bang Zai (爱浜仔), one of Rong Rong’s panda friends, to join the festivities and celebrate together.

Personality

According to caretakers at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center, Rong Rong is known for his:

• Open and cheerful personality
• Affectionate nature — enjoys being close to caretakers
• Playful spirit — active and engaged with his environment

Current Status

Rong Rong currently resides at the Qinling Sibao Science Park (秦岭四宝科学公园) in Yangxian County, Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province. He continues to grow and thrive under the care of the conservation team, with ongoing support from his Peihua Group adoption.

Conservation Significance

As another offspring of the genetically significant Qi Zai, Rong Rong contributes to:

1. Genetic diversity of the Qinling subspecies
2. Research potential for understanding coat color inheritance
3. Population growth of this distinct panda subspecies
4. Public engagement through his popular personality and adoption story

Sources & References

• Qinling Giant Panda Research Center official records
• Peihua Group adoption ceremony documentation (October 29, 2023)
• Wei Fuwen et al., “Taking a color photo: A homozygous 25-bp deletion in Bace2 may cause brown-and-white coat color in giant pandas,” PNAS, March 5, 2024
• Social media documentation of birthday celebrations