Xinxing, the world’s oldest living giant panda, is celebrating its 38th birthday this year. In human years, the panda’s age is equal to 110 to 150 years old. On August 16, Chongqing Zoo held a birthday party for the ‘birthday girl’. Currently, Xinxing is in good health.

Hundreds of panda fans celebrated Xinxing’s birth anniversary at Chongqing Zoo. Under the guidance of the staff, Xinxing walked onto the stage and devoured the birthday cake made of bamboo shoots, carrots, watermelon and other fruits and vegetables.

Giant panda Xinxing walks towards the birthday cake under the guidance of the breeder. （photo/Hualong.com - New Chongqing)

Female giant panda Xinxing was born in August 1982 in Baoxing, Sichuan Province. In 1983, Xinxing and her mother were lost when they were found covered in mud and dirt in a field by rescue workers. Later, Xinxing came to Chongqing Zoo where 10 keepers attended to its needs.

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Birthday cake’prepared by the staff for the giant panda. (photo/Hualong.com - New Chongqing)

During the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, the young and energetic Xinxing — named ‘Qiongqiong’ at the time — was sent to Calgary, Canada. Its round and cute appearance and playful and pleasant behaviour drew millions of people who came to catch a glimpse. After returning to China,‘the star of hope’was renamed Xinxing.

The lifespan of a 38-year-old giant panda is equivalent to 110-140 years in human years. （photo/Hualong.com - New Chongqing)

In 1992, Xinxing and Chuanchuan gave birth to their first child at Shanghai Zoo. Since then, Xinxing has bred 10 offspring. At the age of 20, she gave birth to a pair of twins, setting a world record for oldest panda mother. By the end of 2019, there were 153 descendants of Xinxing, living in more than 20 countries and regions, including Canada, the United States, Japan, Taipei, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Ya'an and Shanghai.

‘Of the world's giant pandas, there are less than 30 that have made it past 30 years.’ said Yin Yanqiang, the giant panda technical director of Chongqing Zoo.

Giant panda "Xinxing" Savors delicious food. （photo/Hualong.com - New Chongqing)

The current world record holder for the longest living panda is Jiajia, who died in Hong Kong Ocean Park at about 38 years and 2 months old in 2016. Giant panda Xinxing is now the oldest living captive giant panda in the world. Xinxing is expected to break the record for the longest living giant panda.(By Edina Liang)