Twin panda cubs Qian Ran and Qian Yi celebrated their first birthday on Saturday at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, with zoo keepers hosting a celebration for the pair and many visitors coming to celebrate.
The twin pandas, a female and a male, were born on Aug. 22, 2025. Under the care of the zoo's breeding team, both now weigh nearly 30 kilograms and are in good health condition, according to the park.
Zoo keepers prepared a birthday cake made of seasonal fruits, vegetables, ice and flowers, along with handmade bamboo toys. The siblings pawed at the birthday cake, drawing cheers from visitors.
"It's their first birthday, so I'm here to visit them," said Fang, a visitor.
"I came here especially to celebrate their birthday. I hope they always have a happy time," said Shi, another visitor.
The twins are currently transitioning from milk to solid food and are learning basic skills from their mother, such as biting bamboo and climbing.
"The sister is gentle and quiet, while the brother is active and loves to explore," said Chu Qingpo, a panda keeper at the park. "In the coming days, we will increase the amount of milk and bamboo shoots to help them better transition to solid food."
Twin panda cubs turn one at Shanghai Wild Animal Park
China and Arab countries will deepen practical cooperation in combating drought, desertification and land degradation in the coming five years, according to an action plan released on Saturday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The plan was released at a meeting of the Steering Committee of the China-Arab International Research Center for Drought, Desertification and Land Degradation and the China-Arab Cooperation Workshop, which were held on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Drought, desertification and land degradation are pressing ecological challenges shared by China and Arab nations. The action plan outlines concrete initiatives for the next five years, leveraging platforms such as the China-Arab Center and partnership networks to deepen cooperation in key areas including desertification control, degraded land management, and sandstorm monitoring and early warning.
The 17th session of the COP17 to the UNCCD officially commenced on Monday in Ulaanbaatar under the theme "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope." Delegates from UNCCD's 197 Parties, along with representatives from UN bodies, international organizations, civil society groups, research institutions and enterprises, gathered to discuss issues including restoration of degraded land, sustainable land management, drought resilience, and grassland protection and restoration.
China, Arab countries release plan for desertification control at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia
