Update, September 25:
As Ocean Park Hong Kong prepares to welcome the pair of giant pandas gifted to us by the Chinese government, the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau has announced a city-wide naming contest to be held in October. The pandas are currently named An An and Ke Ke, and you might remember that An An was also the name of a giant panda that Hong Kong had from 1999 to 2022.
Chief Executive John Lee said in a press briefing that two new meaningful names will be selected to ‘accentuate the characteristics’ of the giant pandas. A panel will be formed to make the final decision on the bears’ names. In case you’re wondering, there will also be another naming contest for our giant panda twin cubs that were recently born to Ying Ying, but this will only be organised when they grow into more distinct features.
While we eagerly await the first public appearance of Ying Ying’s adorable twin cubs, Hong Kong is gearing up to welcome another delightful duo of giant pandas – courtesy of the central government – arriving from Sichuan this Thursday.
According to local sources, the bears, aged five to eight, are expected to touch down in Hong Kong around midday on September 26. To ensure a smooth arrival, elite police motorcyclists will accompany the pandas as they make their way to Ocean Park Hong Kong. Before they embark on their journey, Sichuan will also throw them a farewell bash on Wednesday.
Once they arrive, the two giant pandas will undergo another 30-day quarantine (or longer, depending on their health) before they can meet the public. They’ll be joining Ying Ying, Le Le, and their newborn twins at Ocean Park, making for quite the panda family reunion.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Recommended reading:
The first Bar Paul in Asia is coming to Hong Kong
Two Hong Kong hotels are voted among 2024’s top 5 best hotels in the world
Coldplay confirms three Hong Kong concerts on their Music Of The Spheres world tour
Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and updates on what's going on in the city.