Born on 14 September 1992 at the Beijing Zoo, giant panda Yong Ming was exchanged to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in May 1994 and left China in September to begin a 29-year-long exchange life at the Adventure World in Japan.

 

Yong Ming on his arrival in Japan in 1994

(Photo by yomiuri.co.jp)

 

Up to now, he has bred 16 children with giant pandas Mei Mei and Liang Bang. He is the patriarch of the Bang Family, China's largest family of giant pandas overseas. On 17 December 2022, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, appointed Yong Ming as "Messenger of Friendship between China and Japan".

 

Yong Ming's 30th birthday

(Photo by yomiuri.co.jp)

 

According to official news, Yong Ming and his twin daughters Ying Bang and Tao Bang (born on 2 December 2014) will be departing from Japan and return to Chengdu on 22 February.

 

Twins with their mother Liang Bang

(Photo by gakken_ehon)

 

(Photo by sakura1202oz)

 

For this reason, the Adventure World held a farewell event for them on February 21, attracting a large number of Japanese fans to come and say goodbye to them. Images of the three pandas' growth records were shown at the event. Staffs and visitors expressed their gratitude and reluctance to part with them.

 

(Photo by Adventure World)

 

We hope 30-year-old Yong Ming and his daughters live a happy life in Chengdu! 

 

(Photo by Adventure World)

 

Edited by Song Xiaopei