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The return of giant pandas once again makes Atlanta one of the few U.S. destinations where travelers can see this iconic species. Photo Credit: Snow Chang / Pexels


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NORTH AMERICA ---------------------------4562NEWS STORY

Panda Mania Arrives in the USA With Two New Giant Pandas in Atlanta

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang Arrive From China, Bringing a Familiar Atlanta Attraction Back to Life

Atlanta has giant pandas again. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived from Chengdu, China, on September 27, bringing one of Zoo Atlanta’s most recognizable attractions back to the city and giving travelers another reason to include Atlanta in their plans. The two pandas will remain in Atlanta for 10 years.

Their arrival was anything but routine. The pandas traveled aboard a FedEx Boeing 777F known as the “FedEx Panda Express,” in specially prepared crates and accompanied by animal-care specialists. The flight also carried bamboo and other supplies needed for their journey.

For Atlanta, this is a long-awaited return. The zoo’s previous pandas went back to China in 2024 after 25 years of cooperation. During that period, Lun Lun and Yang Yang produced seven offspring and helped make Zoo Atlanta one of the best-known places in the United States to see giant pandas.

A New Reason to Visit Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta is currently one of only three U.S. zoos housing giant pandas and the only one in the Southeast. That makes Ping Ping and Fu Shuang a particularly distinctive attraction for families and travelers exploring Georgia and other destinations across the Southeast.

Visitors who want to see them will have to wait, however. The pandas are completing quarantine and an adjustment period before their public debut. Zoo Atlanta will announce the opening date when they are ready, so travelers should check the zoo’s official information before planning a trip specifically around the pandas.

Their return also renews a connection between Atlanta and Chengdu. Both pandas were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and are part of a new cooperation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association focused on research and conservation.

The program continues a relationship that has supported conservation projects in China involving habitat, nature reserves and research. For visitors, that means the experience goes beyond seeing one of the world’s most popular animals; it also offers a glimpse into an international conservation partnership.

When Ping Ping and Fu Shuang finally meet the public, Atlanta will regain an attraction that can appeal both to families visiting the city for the first time and to travelers returning for another look. The pandas are back. Now the countdown to meeting them begins.

By Heydi Bernal for Ruta Pantera on 9/28/2026 4:43:16 AM


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References:
Zoo Atlanta. (2026, September 27). The giant pandas have landed!
Zoo Atlanta. (2026, April 23). Two new giant pandas are expected to arrive at Zoo Atlanta.
FedEx. (2026, September 27). FedEx Panda Express delivers giant pandas from China to the United States, supporting global conservation efforts.
Zoo Atlanta. (2026). FAQs: Giant Panda Program at Zoo Atlanta.


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