You may have read plenty of giant panda facts online, but seeing them in real life is a completely different experience. If you’re a panda lover, China is basically the ultimate destination. The country is home to some truly famous giant pandas, each with their own little quirks and fan base. On a China panda tour, you can visit panda bases and zoos to meet these fluffy celebrities in person.
1. Hua Hua - China’s Beloved Panda Star
Hua Hua is a famous panda in Chengdu. She comes from a pretty impressive panda family. Her dad is Mei Lan, and her mom is Cheng Gong, which also makes her the half-sister of Meng Lan. With that background, it’s no surprise she’s become a bit of a panda star herself—the adorable face of the “Cheng family” pandas.
What really makes Hua Hua unforgettable is her personality. She’s round like a little triangle rice ball and moves at her own slow pace. When snacks appear, she’s usually the last one there. Even when her mischievous sister, He Ye, another well-known giant panda, climbs on her or steals her food, Hua Hua just stays calm and keeps eating her bamboo.
You may wonder why pandas are famous. Just take a look at Hua Hua on your Chengdu panda tours.
>> 3-day Chengdu panda tour with Leshan
2. Fu Bao - The Panda Who Won Korea’s Heart
When it comes to famous panda bear names, Fu Bao should be mentioned. She grew up like a true little princess of Everland. Her keepers made her hundreds of handmade toys—slides, swings, even a tiny “guitar.” She learned to play with all of them, and her playful personality quickly turned her into one of the most beloved pandas in Korea.
She’s also famous for her quirky habits, like rolling down the stairs in a series of little somersaults instead of simply walking. Growing up surrounded by so much love made this famous panda confident, lively, and just a little bit dramatic in front of the camera. Her story also shows how successful the panda breeding program has been in helping giant pandas thrive around the world.
>> 6-day Wolong panda volunteer tour with Mt. Siguniang
3. Meng Lan - Beijing’s Famous “Kung Fu” Panda
Meng Lan is regarded as the action star of the panda world, like a real-life version of the heroes you see among famous pandas in movies. He first went viral after pulling off a legendary “escape attempt,” using a ball in his enclosure to climb toward the fence, almost like a panda doing kung fu tricks.
Though playful, he is not just a daredevil. When he’s happy, this famous giant panda has this adorable habit of nibbling on his own little paw like a kid enjoying candy. Also, he is very gentle too, and sometimes you’ll see him leaving food for sparrows nearby.
If you’re a fan of Kung Fu Panda, you can even take a China Kung Fu Panda tour to see Meng Lan in real life when traveling in Beijing.
>> 5-day private Beijing family tour with giant pandas4. Qi Zai - The World’s Only Brown Giant Panda in Captivity
Qi Zai is a famous panda bear with brown-and-white fur. Because of this, fans lovingly call him the “chocolate panda” or the panda who “ran out of ink.” Also, researchers see him as an important piece of the puzzle for giant panda conservation.
Qi Zai blew up again thanks to a hilarious “bamboo skewer breakfast.” Keepers stacked apples and carrots on a bamboo stick like a panda version of candied fruit, and Qi Zai happily devoured the whole thing—stick included. Fascinated by this famous panda? Pay a visit to him on your Xi’an tours.
5. Fei Yun - Beauty and Strength in One Panda
As one of the most famous pandas in zoos, Fei Yun is jokingly called “Liu Yifei of the panda world” by fans. She has a classic hamster-like face, ginkgo-leaf-shaped ears, shiny black-pearl eyes, and a naturally smiling mouth. All these make her look perfect.
Despite her charming appearance, Fei Yun is a panda full of strength. Once, the dinner was late, and Fei Yun broke the iron door with one punch, which made the zoo staff add six locks, gaining her the nickname“Six Princess”. Besides, when her toy was taken away by another guy, Fei Yun fought back and pinned the opponent down without mercy.
>> 8-day Dalian-Xian-Beijing exploration
6. Yuan Meng - A French-Born Trailblazer
Making history the day he was born, Yuan Meng is one of the most famous giant pandas in the world.
When he was a little cub, he was often licked by his mother, Huan Huan, which contributed a lot to his pink and curly fur. For this reason, he became more adorable and finally turned into a famous panda star in the country. But don’t be fooled by his cute appearance, since he could even show his temper towards France’s First Lady.
However, his stay in France was not too long. Later in 2023, Yuan Meng returned to China for a better breeding environment. And now, he lives at the Sichuan Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the best panda bases, where the famous panda Hua Hua also lives.
>> 3-day panda tour with Chengdu highlights
7. Xiang Xiang - A Beloved Panda Princess
Xiang Xiang was born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, and people in Japan quickly fell in love with her. Later, the zoo invited the public to help choose a name for the famous giant panda. The response was overwhelming, and “Xiang Xiang” eventually became the name everyone remembered.
Since Xiang Xiang is one of the celebrity pandas, when she left for China, plenty of fans showed up just to see her one last time. If you join a panda volunteer program at Bifengxia Panda Base on your Chengdu tours, you might even get the chance to help care for her.
>> 5-day Bifengxia Panda Base volunteer tour
8. Mei Xiang - The Legendary Panda Mother
Mei Xiang is a famous panda returning from overseas, and she made a great contribution to endangered giant panda conservation. In 2000, she traveled to Washington, D.C. from China with her partner Tian Tian. Soon after their arrival, they became the most famous Chinese panda couples at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
As a devoted mother, she has raised four surviving cubs, including the famous panda cub Tai Shan, who has inspired a Chinese animated film and has become one of the famous cartoon pandas. Besides, her children, Bei Bei and Xiao Qi Ji, are also popular.
>> 1-day panda volunteer tour to Dujiangyan Panda Base
9. Yu Ke - The Gentle and Affectionate Panda
Yu Ke is a famous giant panda born to be clingy. He loved being held by his mom, Er Shun, and the keepers. When someone picked him up, he grinned from ear to ear. Due to his mom’s bad health conditions, Yu Ke had to be independent and take responsibility for taking care of his sister, Yu Ai.
Yu Ke is smart and warm. Once, when his little sister was trying to climb onto the hammock but failed, he walked over and held the hammock steady for her, so she got up right away. Gentle as he was, he was always caring about others in his own way.
>> 1-day classic Chongqing tour with giant pandas
10. Yu Ai - The Fearless Panda Girl
Yu Ai is a little famous panda bear with the spirit of a Chongqing “spicy girl”. Being independent, she often carries a little twig in her mouth as if inspecting the panda house. At her first birthday ceremony, Yu Ai reached straight out and grabbed the curator. Since then, the panda fans have jokingly called her the “Second Curator.”
Though being young, she has mastered many unique skills. For instance, she can lift a manhole cover with her bare paws, then lean over the opening and peek inside, curious about what’s down there. Also, she teases birds, chases butterflies, and climbs trees, always full of energy.
Can’t wait to see the cute Yu Ke and Yu Ai? Start a Chongqing tour to meet them up close.
Meet the Famous Giant Pandas in China with ETC
Wondering where you can see famous pandas and how to plan a panda tour? Visiting places like Chengdu or Bifengxia, where these popular pandas live, is an experience you won’t forget. At ETC, we’re happy to help you customize a relaxed, well-planned panda trip. Or you can take a look at our best China tours with giant pandas below.