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Yuan Meng
圆梦
alive male
Born August 4, 2017
Yuan Meng (圆梦), studbook #1094, is a male giant panda born on August 4, 2017 at Beauval Zoo in France — the first giant panda ever born in France. His parents are Yuan Zi (圆仔) and Huan Huan (欢欢). Named by the Chinese and French First Ladies, his godmother is French President Macron's wife Brigitte Macron. He returned to China on July 26, 2023 and now resides at the Chengdu Research Base. A 2.5-meter bronze statue in his honor was unveiled at Beauval Zoo in March 2024.
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Profile snapshot
Quick facts
Birth date
August 4, 2017
Birth place
ZooParc de Beauval
Current location
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Status
Alive
Studbook
#1094Archive activity
4 updates · 0 media
Narrative
Life story
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Short version
Yuan Meng (圆梦), studbook #1094, is a male giant panda born on August 4, 2017 at Beauval Zoo in France — the first giant panda ever born in France. His parents are Yuan Zi (圆仔) and Huan Huan (欢欢). Named by the Chinese and French First Ladies, his godmother is French President Macron's wife Brigitte Macron. He returned to China on July 26, 2023 and now resides at the Chengdu Research Base. A 2.5-meter bronze statue in his honor was unveiled at Beauval Zoo in March 2024.
Basic Profile
Yuan Meng (Chinese: 圆梦) is a male giant panda born on August 4, 2017, at ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France — the first giant panda ever born in France. He holds the global studbook number 1094. His birth weight was 142 grams.
His father is Yuan Zi (圆仔, studbook 550) and his mother is Huan Huan (欢欢, studbook 951). He has younger half-sisters: Huan Li Li (欢黎黎) and Yuan Du Du (圆嘟嘟) (born 2021).
His twin sibling unfortunately died shortly after birth.
Naming
On December 4, 2017, his name “Yuan Meng” (圆梦, meaning “Dream Fulfilled”) was jointly announced by Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan and French First Lady Brigitte Macron. Brigitte Macron also served as his godmother.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited Yuan Meng at Beauval Zoo on his 40th birthday, December 16, 2017.
Public Debut
On January 13, 2018, Yuan Meng made his first public appearance, described as very lively and curious — climbing and exploring while his mother ate bamboo.
Life in France
Yuan Meng celebrated his birthdays annually at Beauval Zoo. He became a beloved cultural ambassador for France-China friendship.
Return to China
Originally scheduled for July 4, 2023, the return was delayed to July 25, 2023 due to administrative reasons. On the day of departure, Brigitte Macron personally saw him off at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, alongside Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye.
Yuan Meng arrived in Chengdu on July 26, 2023, and now resides at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Legacy
On March 22, 2024, a 2.5-meter bronze statue titled “Yuan Meng: Fulfilling a Dream” was unveiled at Beauval Zoo to commemorate his legacy as the first panda born in France.
Evidence
Life timeline
Key updates and milestone events tied to Yuan Meng.
2023 (1)
2018 (1)
Knowledge graph
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Themes connected to Yuan Meng
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Connected archive
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Place journey
Current location
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu, China
Yuan Meng is currently linked to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Mentioned in archive reading
culture
ZooParc de Beauval and Yuan Meng: France's Intimate Panda Love Affair
When Yuan Meng was born at ZooParc de Beauval in 2017 — the first panda cub ever born in France — it was a national event. First Lady Brigitte Macron became his godmother. Millions of French visitors have since made the pilgrimage to the Loire Valley to see him. This article tells the story of France's panda program and the cub who became a French cultural phenomenon.
culture
Chengdu's Fan Economy: How One Panda Fuels an Entire City's Tourism
Hua Hua's celebrity has transformed the Chengdu Research Base from a conservation facility into one of China's most popular tourist destinations. This article examines the 'panda fan economy' — how a single charismatic animal drives millions in ticket sales, hotel bookings, merchandise revenue, and social media engagement, and what this phenomenon reveals about the economic power of animal celebrity.
culture
Where Pandas Live: The Complete Global Distribution Guide
The giant panda diaspora spans 58 locations across continents — from the misty bamboo forests of Sichuan to climate-controlled enclosures in Singapore, from mountain reserves that shelter free-ranging pandas to urban zoos that host celebrities. This article provides the definitive guide to panda geography: where they live, why they're there, what the distribution reveals about conservation history, and how the map has changed from 1869 to today.
culture
Madrid Zoo's 40-Year Panda Friendship: Spain's Bamboo Legacy
Since 1978, when King Juan Carlos I returned from China with two giant pandas as a diplomatic gift, Spain has maintained one of Europe's longest continuous panda programs. This article traces the full story — from Shao-Shao and Chang-Chang to Chu-Lin (Europe's first captive-born panda) — and the deep cultural bond between Spain and its pandas.
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Primary source types
- Conservation institution records
- Official panda databases
- Research publications and archive reporting
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