Xiu Qiu

Basic Profile

Field	Detail
Name	Xiu Qiu (绣球)
Studbook	#1045
Gender	Female
Birth Date	September 5, 2016
Birth Place	CCRCGP Hetaoping Base, Wolong, Sichuan
Current Location	Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Status	Alive
Mother	Shui Xiu (水秀)
Father	Xiang Ge (香格)

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Family & Lineage

Siblings

Xiu Qiu comes from a very large family. Her mother Shui Xiu is known for producing many cubs:

Name	Gender	Notes
Ao Ao (傲傲)	Male	—
Feng Feng (峰峰)	Male	—
Yi Ran (怡然)	Female	—
Yi Chang (怡畅)	Female	—
Hua Yang (华阳)	Male	—
Lu Lu (禄禄)	Female	—
Xi Xi (禧禧)	Female	—
Bao Lai (宝来)	Male	—
Can Can (璨璨)	Female	—
Xiu Yang (秀阳)	Male	—
Mao Mao (茅茅)	Male	—
Xiu Chen (秀辰)	Female	—

Offspring

Cub	Birth Date	Gender	Status	Notes
You You (优悠)	2021-09-21	Female	Alive	Nicknamed “Little Mud Ball” (小泥球)

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Life Journey

Birth (2016-09-05)

Xiu Qiu was born on September 5, 2016 at the CCRCGP Hetaoping Base in Wolong, Sichuan. She was one of the many cubs born to experienced mother Shui Xiu.

Move to Chengdu (2023)

In 2023, Xiu Qiu was transferred to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where she currently resides.

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Motherhood: The “Little Mud Ball” Story

Birth of You You (2021-09-21)

On September 21, 2021, Xiu Qiu gave birth to a daughter — You You (优悠) — at the Wolong Shenshuping Base. The cub was healthy and strong, weighing in at a normal birth weight.

Why “Little Mud Ball”?

Xiu Qiu proved to be an attentive but exceptionally active mother. She developed a habit of frequently picking up her cub and moving her to different locations within the enclosure. Each time You You was deposited in a new spot, she would pick up dirt and mud on her fur.

The constant relocation left her cub perpetually grubby — a tiny, mud-covered ball of fluff that fans immediately fell in love with. Keepers affectionately called her “Little Mud Ball” (小泥球) — a nickname that stuck long after she learned to keep herself clean.

Xiu Qiu was simply being an overprotective mother — constantly checking on her cub, moving her to what she considered safer spots. The mud was just a side effect of good parenting.

The Internet Sensation

Photos and videos of the perpetually dirty cub spread across Chinese social media, with fans finding endless humor in the contrast between Xiu Qiu’s clean white fur and her daughter’s muddy appearance. The “Little Mud Ball” became one of the most talked-about panda cubs of 2021.

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Personality

Xiu Qiu is described by her keepers as a devoted and energetic mother. Her active parenting style, while creating the messy “Little Mud Ball” appearance, demonstrated strong maternal instincts and excellent cub care.

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Current Status

Xiu Qiu currently lives at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Her daughter You You is growing up healthy and has long since learned to keep herself clean — though the “Little Mud Ball” nickname remains a beloved part of panda internet culture.