Zoo Berlin celebrated the first birthday of Meng Hao and Meng Tian, the second pair of giant panda twins born locally in Germany, on Friday.
Meng Hao, meaning "beautiful dreams," and Meng Tian, meaning "sweet dreams," are female twins born on August 22, 2024, the second pair born to their mother Meng Meng.
The cubs also go by their German nicknames, Leni -- a tribute to Berlin actress Marlene Dietrich -- and Lotti, inspired by the Charlottenburg district of Berlin.
On Friday, the staff at Zoo Berlin prepared a special birthday feast for Meng Hao and Meng Tian -- ice cakes made from beetroot and carrot juice, accompanied by birthday candles crafted from bamboo.
"A year ago, when Meng Hao and Meng Tian were born, they weighed only 150 grams each, with their visual and auditory senses undeveloped and their bodies completely hairless. Now, a year has passed, and their weight has reached 21 kilograms each, showing significant growth. They are in excellent health, with distinct black and white coat colors. Giant pandas have played a very positive role in promoting people-to-people exchanges, acting as cultural ambassadors for China in Germany and crucial advocates for species preservation," said Florian Sicks, curator of the Panda Garden at Zoo Berlin.
"Leni and Lotti are one year [old] today. We come today here for their birthday. And we like it. And I have my outfit also [in the style of a panda]. So, it's today on. They came out in April, the first time we see it. And now every time we are here in Berlin too, we go looking for the pandas," said a tourist from the Netherlands.
"I see that today is one-year birthday for two panda siblings and we are too surprised because it's very nice. Happy a lot of years," said a tourist from the Czech Republic.
German zoo celebrates first birthday of second locally born panda twins
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
