Xing Ya

Basic Profile

Xing Ya (Chinese: 星雅, meaning “elegant star”), studbook number 879, is a male giant panda born on August 5, 2013 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base in Sichuan, China. His father is Yuan Yuan (园园) and his mother is Zhuang Mei (壮妹). He has several siblings including Jin Bao Bao (金宝宝, sb941), Chu Xin (初心), Xiao He Tao (小核桃), and Xing An (星安).

Xing Ya was described by his keepers as an active, playful panda who enjoyed running and climbing trees — a “sunshine little boy.”

Journey to the Netherlands

In 2015, a 15-year China-Netherlands panda conservation agreement was signed during the state visit of Dutch King Willem-Alexander to China. Xing Ya was selected alongside female Wu Wen (武雯, sb884) to become the first pandas ever to reside in the Netherlands.

On April 11, 2017, the pair departed from Wolong Shenshuping Base. They flew aboard a KLM dedicated flight to Amsterdam, accompanied by Chinese and Dutch keepers. Upon arrival, they were transported to Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, where a specially built Panda Palace (“Pandasia”) awaited them. The public debut took place on May 30, 2017.

Fatherhood

Xing Ya and Wu Wen naturally mated in January 2020, resulting in the birth of Fan Xing (梵星) on May 1, 2020 — the first giant panda ever born in the Netherlands. They successfully mated again in February 2024, and Wu Wen gave birth to Lang Yue (朗月) on July 12, 2024.

Xing Ya continues to reside at Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands as of 2026. tags:

• captive-bred
• ouwehands-zoo
• netherlands
• overseas
• father featured: false shortStory: | Xing Ya (星雅), studbook #879, is a male giant panda born on August 5, 2013 at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base, son of Yuan Yuan (园园, 488) and Zhuang Mei (壮妹). In April 2017, he traveled to Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands alongside Wu Wen (武雯), where he fathered Fan Xing (梵星, 2020) and Lang Yue (朗月, 2024).

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Basic Profile

Xing Ya (Chinese: 星雅) is a male giant panda born on August 5, 2013, at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. He holds the global studbook number 879.

His father is Yuan Yuan (园园, studbook 488) and his mother is Zhuang Mei (壮妹). He has siblings including Xing An (星安), Jin Bao Bao (金宝宝), Chu Xin (初心), and Xiao He Tao (小核桃).

He is described as active, playful, and lively — an energetic “sunshine boy” who loves running, climbing trees, and eating. His keepers at Ouwehands note his curious and outgoing personality.

Personality

Xing Ya is described as active, playful, and lively. He enjoys running and climbing trees — a true “sunshine boy” according to his keepers.

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Journey to the Netherlands

On April 11, 2017, Xing Ya and Wu Wen departed for the Netherlands. The Netherlands built a €5.1 million, 9,000-square-meter palace-style panda house inspired by the Forbidden City, named “Pandasia.” They debuted to the public on May 30, 2017.

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Fatherhood

On January 18, 2020, Xing Ya and Wu Wen successfully mated. Their daughter Fan Xing (梵星) was born on May 1, 2020 — the first panda born in the Netherlands, named after Van Gogh. In February 2024, they mated again, and their cub Lang Yue (朗月) was born on July 12, 2024.