Xin Xing

Basic Profile

Xin Xing (Chinese: 新星, studbook number 253) was a female giant panda born in the wild of Baoxing, Sichuan around August 1982. She was rescued from the wild in 1983 at approximately one year old and brought to Chongqing Zoo, where she lived for the rest of her extraordinary 38-year life.

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The Longest-Lived Panda

Xin Xing held the Guinness World Record as the oldest captive giant panda ever recorded, reaching 38 years and 4 months — equivalent to approximately 110–150 human years. She remained active and healthy well into her late 30s, celebrated with birthday parties at Chongqing Zoo each year.

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Breeding Legacy

Xin Xing began breeding in 1992. Over her lifetime, she produced 8 litters totaling 10 cubs, including twins born when she was 20 years old — a record for panda geriatric pregnancy. Her first mate was Chuan Chuan (川川) from Shanghai Zoo.

By 2019, Xin Xing’s descendants numbered 153 individuals living across 20+ countries and regions. Her most famous descendants include:

• Ling Ling (灵灵, sb424) — her son, a prolific sire at Chongqing Zoo
• Hao Qi (好奇) — named by Nobel laureate Samuel C.C. Ting
• Shuang Shuang / Chong Chong / Xi Xi / Qing Qing — great-grandchildren born at Chongqing Zoo in 2019

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Death and Legacy

In October 2020, Xin Xing began showing signs of declining health — lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing. Despite intensive veterinary care including consultations with CCRCGP experts, she died of multiple organ failure on December 8, 2020.

Her legacy as the matriarch of Chongqing’s panda population continues through her extensive lineage. In 2020, over 150 of her descendants lived in zoos worldwide, making her one of the most genetically impactful pandas in the global captive population.