Today in Smithsonian History: July 22, 1998

Giant pandas Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male) in their new home in the National Zoological Park’s Panda House on the day of their arrival, Dec. 6, 2000. Both pandas were born at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province, China. (Photo by Jeff Tinsley)

July 22, 1998 Giant Panda Mei Xiang is born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan Province. She will travel to the United States to take up residence at the National Zoo in 2000.

The photo shows giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in their new home in the National Zoological Park’s Panda House on the day of their arrival in 2000. Both pandas were born at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda. On July 9, 2005, Mei Xiang gave birth to her and Tian Tian’s first cub, Tai Shan. Tai Shan returned to China on February 4, 2010, and lives at the Bifengxia Panda Base, in Ya’an, Sichuan Province, China

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives

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