Panda family in Macao serves as emotional bond between SAR, mainland

A giant panda family living in the Seac Pai Van Park in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has become a source of joy for the residents, as well as an emotional bond between the SAR and the mainland.

Known as the "happy family," the beloved panda family has four members: a male giant panda affectionately named Kai Kai and a female giant panda named Xin Xin and their offspring. The couple is named after the Chinese word kaixin, which means happy. Xin Xin gave birth to twin panda cubs in June 2016, and the twin panda cubs were officially named Jian Jian and Kang Kang by the government out of 1,718 names recommended by Macao residents. The twins' names are derived from the Chinese word jiankang, which means healthy.

Kai Kai and Xin Xin arrived in Macao from Chengdu City in southwest China's Sichuan Province in April 2015 as a gift from the central government.

"Kai Kai and Xin Xin have adapted well here," said Mok Weng Han, a panda breeder. "We communicate with them in Cantonese, use a bit of English during training sessions, and even speak a little Chengdu dialect with them."

To ensure the well-being of the panda family, a regular exchange and training mechanism was established between the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

"Every moment of their growth is unforgettable – their first time opening their eyes, turning over, crawling and growing teeth. The experience is valuable in panda conservation. The whole process involves not only our efforts but also the support provided by our country and the training opportunities offered by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding," said Mok.

As the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China draws near, an increasing number of locals are visiting the park to see the panda family, hoping that they thrive in Macao and bring even more happiness to the people, just as their names suggest.

Primary school students visiting the park said they greet the panda family every Saturday and love to see the adorable creatures.

"Since Macao's return to the motherland 25 years ago, we have witnessed from the perspective of the residents that the society has become more prosperous and livable. I hope that just like our pandas' names, everyone in Macao will be happy and healthy," said Mok.

(Cover image is a still from the video)