Xi Lan

Basic Profile

Xi Lan (Chinese name: 喜兰, studbook number 806) is a male giant panda born on August 30, 2008 at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. He is the second cub and second offspring of Lun Lun (伦伦, studbook 452) and Yang Yang (洋洋, studbook 461). Xi Lan was the only giant panda cub born in the United States during the calendar year 2008, making him a notable figure in the international giant panda breeding community.

Naming Ceremony

Following the tradition established with his elder brother Mei Lan, Zoo Atlanta invited the public to vote on Xi Lan’s name. Twelve names were selected as finalists, including Xiao Laoxiong (“little buddy”), Hua Sheng (“peanut”), and Wei Sheng (“greatness is born”). On December 8, 2008, at his 100-day naming ceremony, the winning name Xi Lan (喜兰), submitted by the Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors, was unveiled. The name means “Atlanta’s joy” — combining “Xi” (喜, meaning joy or happiness) with “Lan” (兰, short for Atlanta).

Life at Zoo Atlanta

Xi Lan made his public debut on December 30, 2008, delighting visitors to Zoo Atlanta’s panda exhibit. He grew up under the attentive care of his mother Lun Lun, known for her strong maternal instincts. Xi Lan’s early development was closely monitored by the zoo’s veterinary and keeper teams, and he quickly became a favorite among zoo visitors and panda enthusiasts worldwide.

Return to China

On May 20, 2014, Xi Lan was transported from Zoo Atlanta back to China, following the same path as his elder brother Mei Lan before him. Upon arrival, he was transferred to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地) in Sichuan Province, where he has resided since.

Family

Xi Lan comes from a prominent giant panda family. His siblings include:

• Mei Lan (美兰, sb649) — elder brother, born 2006
• Po (阿宝/宝兰, sb810) — younger brother, born 2010
• Mei Lun (美轮, sb807) and Mei Huan (美奂, sb773) — younger twin sisters, born 2013
• Ya Lun (雅伦, sb1026) and Xi Lun (喜伦, sb1089) — younger twin sisters, born 2016

Both of Xi Lan’s parents, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, resided at Zoo Atlanta from 1999 until their return to China in October 2024, having produced seven offspring during their 25-year stay.