中国大熊猫“平平”与“福双”启程赴美 开启亚特兰大动物园10年租借China Sends Giant Pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to Zoo Atlanta on 10-Year Loan

据新华社报道，运载大熊猫“平平”与“福双”的联邦快递波音777货机于当地时间周日凌晨2点55分（美国东部时间周六下午2点55分）从成都双流国际机场起飞。在出发前，成都市区举行了欢送仪式，现场有支持者挥舞标语，目送装运两只大熊猫的运输箱由车队从四川的大熊猫繁育研究基地转运至机场停机坪并吊装入机舱。整个跨洋飞行时间预计约为15小时。

The FedEx-operated Boeing 777 cargo aircraft carrying Ping Ping and Fu Shuang took off from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 2:55 a.m. local time on Sunday (2:55 p.m. ET Saturday), according to China's state news agency Xinhua. Prior to the departure, a farewell ceremony took place in Sichuan as supporters waved placards along the route from the breeding base. Ground vehicles transported the two specialized travel crates across the tarmac before hoisting them into the aircraft for the transpacific journey, which was scheduled to last approximately 15 hours.

为保障长途飞行期间的营养与适应需求，中方运送团队在机舱内配备了竹笋、胡萝卜以及特制的蒸窝头等充足补给。随机同行的不仅包括中国兽医与饲养人员，还包括提前前往中国对接的经验丰富的亚特兰大动物园专业饲养员。中方专业人员将在两只大熊猫抵达亚特兰大并进入检疫隔离期期间驻留动物园，持续协助美方团队开展日常照料与健康监测。

To maintain the animals' nourishment and comfort throughout the long flight, handlers stocked the cabin with bamboo shoots, fresh carrots, and steamed corn buns. In addition to Chinese veterinarians and breeders who will remain at Zoo Atlanta during the initial quarantine period, experienced American zookeepers who had traveled to China beforehand also accompanied the pair on the flight to assist with their care, routine monitoring, and transition.

大熊猫租借安排是中国国家主席习近平结束对华盛顿为期三天的国事访问后落实的成果之一。在与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普举行的会晤中，两国领导人达成延长贸易休战并设立人工智能热线等共识，而大熊猫租借被视为此次峰会达成的少数具体合作成果之一。中方长期将大熊猫借展作为软实力外交工具，用于巩固双边关系、修复外交互信或拓展合作伙伴，但此前也曾在双边关系趋紧时允许租约到期并撤回大熊猫。

The panda transfer served as one of the few concrete outcomes resulting from Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington, which concluded just a day before the flight. During the summit with US President Donald Trump aimed at managing tensions, both sides agreed to extend a trade truce and establish a bilateral artificial intelligence hotline. Beijing has long deployed panda loan agreements as an established soft-power diplomatic instrument to reinforce alliances and mend strained international ties, while also letting previous agreements expire and pulling pandas back during periods of heightened friction.

北京将大熊猫作为外交礼物的历史可追溯至半个多世纪以前。1972年美国总统理查德·尼克松历史性访华后，毛泽东首次向美国赠送大熊猫，开创了中美之间的大熊猫交流传统。此次前往亚特兰大的雄性大熊猫“平平”，其名字与1957年中国赠予苏联的第一只大熊猫完全相同，在中文语境中寓意“和平”。

China's practice of dispatching pandas overseas dates back more than half a century. Following US President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972, Chairman Mao Zedong initiated the tradition by sending pandas to American zoos. Notably, the male panda heading to Atlanta shares the name Ping Ping, meaning peace, with the very first panda gifted by Mao to the Soviet Union in 1957.

国家林业和草原局的信息显示，雄性大熊猫“平平”出生于2020年3月17日，眼周拥有醒目的大黑眼圈，且擅长爬树；雌性大熊猫“福双”的名字意为“双重福气”，出生于同年10月18日，其头顶长有一小簇毛发，额头微凸，善于寻找食物。负责照料它们的饲养员付佳向中国中央电视台介绍，“平平”性格勇敢而温和，在日常训练中看到苹果时会发出轻柔的呜咽声以索取零食，而“福双”则对蜂蜜表现出格外强烈的喜好。

According to China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the male panda Ping Ping was born on March 17, 2020, features prominent black eye patches, and demonstrates particular skill in climbing trees. Fu Shuang, whose name translates to double blessings, was born seven months later on October 18, 2020. She has a distinct tuft of fur on the crown of her head, a slightly protruding forehead, and a knack for locating food easily. Their keeper, Fu Jia, described Ping Ping as brave and gentle, noting to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that he makes soft whimpering sounds when eager for apple treats during training, while Fu Shuang shows an intense fondness for honey.

成都大熊猫繁育研究基地在挑选赴美大熊猫时，综合考量了年龄、健康状况、遗传背景以及行为个性等多重指标。该繁育基地副主任李明喜接受中央电视台采访时指出，候选大熊猫需要具备温顺的性情并彼此喜爱，以便未来能够实现自然交配。

Experts at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding evaluated age, overall health, genetic lineage, and individual temperaments when selecting the pair for the Atlanta transfer. Li Mingxi, deputy director of the Chengdu breeding base, told CCTV that the chosen pandas needed to exhibit docile temperaments and mutual compatibility to support the prospect of natural mating during their stay.

据新华社报道，亚特兰大动物园团队与中方专家在过去一年中举行了多次线上及线下会议，就大熊猫场馆的升级改造方案进行了深入沟通。动物园动物健康副总裁萨姆·里维拉（Sam Rivera）表示，园方在过去一年中致力于场馆改良，显著扩大了场馆面积，同时确保拥有充足的本地竹子供应以及受过专门培训的经验丰富的专业饲养团队。

According to Xinhua, teams from Zoo Atlanta and Chinese specialists held numerous online and offline meetings over the past year to finalize detailed upgrade and transformation plans for the panda housing facilities. Sam Rivera, vice president of animal health at Zoo Atlanta, told Xinhua that the facility dedicated substantial efforts over the past year toward enlarging and improving the enclosures, securing a reliable supply of locally grown bamboo, and preparing seasoned keepers specifically trained to manage giant pandas.

亚特兰大动物园在大熊猫繁育与饲养方面拥有数十年历史。该动物园在1999年至2024年间长期饲养大熊猫，此前生活在该园的大熊猫“伦伦”与“洋洋”在2006年至2016年期间共繁育了七只幼崽，随后返回成都。动物园早在今年早些时候便表达了对迎接新一对大熊猫的期待，并在园区内设置了欢迎标语，为两只大熊猫的进驻做好全面准备。

Zoo Atlanta brings decades of institutional experience to the new loan agreement, having previously hosted giant pandas from 1999 through 2024. During an earlier multi-year residency, another panda pair, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, produced seven surviving offspring between 2006 and 2016 before their eventual return to Chengdu. Zoo Atlanta previously expressed enthusiasm regarding the arrival of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, displaying welcoming signage across the facility to prepare for the animals' multi-year stay.