Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrive in Atlanta on FedEx 'Panda Express'

# Arrival in Atlanta

# Origins and names

Both animals were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Ping Ping was born on March 17, 2020. Fu Shuang was born on October 18, 2020.

Zoo Atlanta provided meanings for their names: Ping Ping represents a blessing for a smooth and healthy life. Fu Shuang's name, pronounced "Foo Shwong," is connected to "Fu Lu," linking the panda and her mother to the idea of happiness.

# How the transfer was arranged

The transfer is part of a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. That agreement enabled the pandas' move to Atlanta and frames the institutions' collaboration on research and conservation.

The arrival also followed public attention tied to high-level diplomacy: Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned that two pandas would arrive in Atlanta within days during a state visit to the United States.

# Zoo context and history

Zoo Atlanta has a recent history with giant pandas. For 25 years it housed Lun Lun and Yang Yang, which became well-known to the local public and produced offspring that attracted long-term interest. With Ping Ping and Fu Shuang's arrival, Zoo Atlanta becomes one of three U.S. zoos hosting giant pandas and the only zoological organization in the U.S. Southeast to have the species.

# Logistics on site

Zoo staff transported the animals in specially designed Zoo Atlanta crates after the flight. Chinese veterinarians and keepers were reported to be on hand to assist with settling the animals into their new home.

# What this means for visitors and the city

# Practical next steps

Expect Zoo Atlanta to publish schedules, viewing rules, ticketing details, and health-and-safety protocols for panda viewing. The zoo will likely coordinate with its new research partners on care and any public-facing educational materials related to the pandas' conservation status and breeding history.

# Bottom line

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are in Atlanta under a formal conservation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and Chinese counterparts. They arrived by donated FedEx cargo flight on September 27, 2026, and the zoo will release timing and details for public viewing and programming in the near term.