Another glimpse into China’s panda diplomacy: Ping Ping and Fu both appear at Atlanta Zoo

The giant pandas "Pingping" and "Fushuang" from China made their public debut at Zoo Atlanta today. They gnawed bamboo and relaxed in their new American habitat, attracting the attention of a large number of tourists and starting a 10-year life in the United States.

Agence France-Presse reported that the male cat Xiong Pingping and the female cat Fushuang arrived from Chengdu in September on a special FedEx flight known as the "Cat Panda Express" and will live in this facility in the southern United States for 10 years.

These two new members were both born in 2020, and the park hopes that they will become suitable partners. Captive pandas typically live about 30 years.

Raymond King, CEO of Zoo Atlanta, told the audience that giant pandas are "animals with a unique ability to inspire curiosity, instill enthusiasm, evoke joy, and unite people around the world."

"This rare partnership helps create a future for a species that is truly beloved around the world," King said.

To prepare for their arrival, Zoo Atlanta renovated its panda facilities and established an animal care team.

The garden also ensures a stable and long-term supply of bamboo, which is grown locally in Atlanta, where the climate is very similar to Chengdu.

This black-and-white, slow-moving mammal is native to the temperate forest habitats of East Asia and does not typically migrate long distances in the wild.

But as part of Beijing's decades-long "panda diplomacy" program to boost foreign relations, many bears have been shipped to zoos around the world.

The hairy display of "soft power" comes as top U.S. officials today called on China to abide by the trade deal reached when U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in October 2025.