Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing:
1972: Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrive from China in April.
1972–1983: Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing attempted to produce ten cubs over the span of five pregnancies and all died of complications.
1983-1991: Ling-Ling experienced many pseudopregnancies during this time as well as her five pregnancies.
1992: Ling-Ling dies of heart failure at the age of 23.
1999: Hsing-Hsing was euthanized at the age of 28 due to age-related diseases.
Mei Xiang (may sh-yahng) and Tian Tian (tien tien):
2000: Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrive in D.C. on December 6. The pair will remain in D.C. for 10 years in exchange for $10 million.
2004: Mei Xiang experiences a pseudopregnancy after breeding attempt.
2005: On July 9th, Mei Xiang gave birth to the Zoo’s first surviving giant panda cub, Tai Shan.
2007-2010: Mei Xiang experienced many pseudopregnancies as scientists were attempting different breeding methods.
2010: Tai Shan left for Wolong Nature Reserve in China on February 4 to participate in breeding research.
2011: A new Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement was signed on January 20 stating that giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian would remain at the Zoo until December 15, 2015.
2013: Mei Xiang gave birth to Bao Bao on August 23, a result of artificial insemenations following many failed attempts.
2015: Mei Xiang gave birth to Bei Bei on August 22, named by the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and the First Lady of the People's Republic of China. The China Wildlife and Conservation Association (CWCA), signed a new Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement effective through December 7, 2020
2017: Bao Bao, Mei Xiang’s second surviving cub, departed for China on February 21, 2017.
2019: Bei Bei, Mei Xiang’s third surviving cub, departed for China on November 19, 2019.
Birth of the 'Miracle Cub':
2020: Mei Xiang gave birth to a fourth surviving cub on August 21, a male named Xiao Qi Ji, which means "Little Miracle" in Mandarin Chinese. The Smithsonian National Zoo writes, "Xiao Qi Ji’s birth is the first outside of China from artificial insemination with frozen-thawed semen only and demonstrates the value and key role of systematic biobanking in species conservation" ("The History"). On December 7, 2020, the Zoo announced that the pandas will continue to live there through the end of 2023. Xiao Qi Ji, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian will go to China at the end of the three-year agreement extension.
2023: On November 8, 2023, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji departed from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo after the nine day celebration called the Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell.
Bao Li (BOW-lee) and Qing Bao (ching-BOW):
2024: Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute On October 15, 2024.
2025: Bao Li and Qing Bao made their public debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on January 24.