Pandas Arrive in Atlanta Following Trump-Xi Meeting

Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, arrived in Atlanta on Sunday, September 27, following President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The pandas landed at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport aboard a specially designated "FedEx Panda Express" aircraft.

Fu Shuang, a five-year-old female, and Ping Ping, a six-year-old male, were previously housed at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. Their journey from Chengdu to Atlanta spanned 16 hours, during which they were provided with water, fresh bamboo, and their preferred treats.

"This is a thrilling day for Zoo Atlanta and a historic moment for the City of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond," said Raymond B. King, President and CEO of Zoo Atlanta. "We are elated to welcome Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and could not be more excited about sharing that joy with our Members, guests, city, and community in the coming weeks."

Zoo Atlanta has enhanced the pandas' habitat in preparation for their arrival, incorporating new day rooms with increased space, advanced zoological lighting, and flooring designed to provide optimal welfare. The zoo has also stocked the habitat with locally grown Atlanta bamboo, chosen for its climatic similarity to Chengdu.

The arrival of these pandas signifies a renewal of the collaborative Giant Panda Conservation effort between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, a partnership that has been in place for over two decades. Zoo Atlanta's initial panda agreement with China commenced in 1999 and concluded in 2024.

During his meeting with President Trump, Xi Jinping referred to the pandas as an "envoy of friendship." This gesture is part of China's long-standing tradition of gifting pandas to other nations, a practice dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The return of pandas to Zoo Atlanta ends a two-year period without the animals at the institution.