The unofficial Qing Bao fan club · Washington, D.C.

Qing Bao

Washington's green treasure. Professional bamboo eater, snow inspector, roller and, this October, pumpkin.

Say it: ching-BOW · 青宝

BornSept 12, 2021 FromChengdu, Sichuan In D.C. sinceOct 2024 Public debutJan 24, 2025
Now showing: Hometown Report: Washington, D.C. 50 States series · 3:10 · Hometown special · Sound on 🔊
Series

Qing Bao's 50 States

Qing Bao is giving a report on every state, plus her hometown, Washington, D.C. Each one has maps, history, state symbols, fun facts and a pop quiz. 2 of 51 done.

ALAlabamaComing soon
AKAlaskaComing soon
AZArizonaComing soon
ARArkansasComing soon
CACaliforniaComing soon
COColoradoComing soon
CTConnecticutComing soon
DEDelawareComing soon
FLFloridaComing soon
GAGeorgiaComing soon
HIHawaiiComing soon
IDIdahoComing soon
ILIllinoisComing soon
INIndianaComing soon
IAIowaComing soon
KSKansasComing soon
KYKentuckyComing soon
LALouisianaComing soon
MEMaineComing soon
MDMarylandComing soon
MAMassachusettsComing soon
MIMichiganComing soon
MNMinnesotaComing soon
MSMississippiComing soon
MOMissouriComing soon
MTMontanaComing soon
NENebraskaComing soon
NVNevadaComing soon
NHNew HampshireComing soon
NJNew JerseyComing soon
NMNew MexicoComing soon
NYNew YorkComing soon
NCNorth CarolinaComing soon
NDNorth DakotaComing soon
OHOhioComing soon
OKOklahomaComing soon
OROregonComing soon
PAPennsylvaniaComing soon
SCSouth CarolinaComing soon
SDSouth DakotaComing soon
TNTennesseeComing soon
TXTexasComing soon
UTUtahComing soon
VTVermontComing soon
VAVirginiaComing soon
WAWashingtonComing soon
WVWest VirginiaComing soon
WIWisconsinComing soon
WYWyomingComing soon
What her name means

Two characters, one very good panda

青 Qīng

Green, as in lush and growing. The National Zoo says it describes the green, mountainous habitat where giant pandas live.

宝 Bǎo

Treasure. It reflects how precious and adored she is. Her fellow D.C. panda, Bao Li, shares the same character.

Field guide

Signature moves to watch for

Based on careful study of the cartoon above. Real pandas are less dramatic, but only slightly.

Cartoon Qing Bao mid-roll, with ROLL ROLL ROLL in bubble letters Difficulty: effortless

The Roll

Starts as a majestic pose. Ends somewhere else entirely. Always followed by sitting up like it was the plan.

Cartoon Qing Bao belly-sliding down a snowy hill shouting WHEEE Season: any day with snow

The Snow Inspection

Giant pandas come from cool mountain forests, so a D.C. snow day is home turf. Belly slides are the preferred testing method.

Cartoon Qing Bao chewing a bamboo stalk so tall it leaves the frame Duration: most of the day

The Lunch

Bamboo is low in nutrients, so giant pandas spend somewhere around 10 to 16 hours a day eating. Lunch is basically a shift.

Cartoon Qing Bao asleep on a log under the night sky with floating Zs Importance: national

The Nap

Whatever is not eating is usually resting. Log, rock or tree fork, any surface will do.

Her story so far

From Chengdu to the National Mall

  1. Born in Sichuan

    Qing Bao was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China.

  2. Lands in Washington

    She arrives at the Smithsonian's National Zoo together with Bao Li, a young male panda. They are the first giant pandas in D.C. since late 2023.

  3. Public debut

    After a few months settling in behind the scenes, she meets her fans at the zoo's giant panda habitat.

  4. First D.C. birthday

    She turns four, her first birthday celebrated in Washington.

  5. Five! Panda party

    The zoo throws her a panda party for her fifth birthday.

Go say hi

Visiting Qing Bao

  • She lives at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW.
  • Admission to the zoo is free. Check the zoo's website for entry passes and current hours before you go.
  • Go early. Pandas are often most active in the morning, and lunch shifts can turn into nap shifts.
  • The closest Metro stops are Woodley Park and Cleveland Park on the Red Line.