ATLANTA — After a two-year absence, giant pandas have returned to Zoo Atlanta. On Friday, November 6, 2026, male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang made their public debut in the brand-new Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, a $6 million renovation that restores the zoo as one of only three U.S. institutions housing the species—and the only one in the Southeast.
The zoo delayed its opening until approximately 10:30 a.m. to accommodate a special morning ceremony at the Grove starting at 8 a.m. General admission followed, giving visitors their first look at the pair in their redesigned home.
Giant Pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang Debut at Zoo Atlanta’s New $6 Million Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove
Ping Ping (born March 17, 2020) and Fu Shuang (born October 18, 2020) arrived from China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on September 27 via a dedicated “FedEx Panda Express” Boeing 777. FedEx donated the transport. The bears completed a routine quarantine and acclimation period before today’s debut. They are here under a 10-year International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
Their arrival marks the continuation of “panda diplomacy” and a fresh chapter after Zoo Atlanta’s previous residents—Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their offspring—returned to China in 2024 following a long-running loan that began in 1999.
The new habitat is named in honor of Arthur M. Blank, whose support for the program dates to that original pair. The $6 million upgrades, funded by a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, completely reimagined the space with animal wellbeing and visitor experience in mind.
Improvements include expanded indoor dayrooms, each with new climbing structures and its own pool; additional climbing features outdoors; water features with aquatic plants; and a central sculpture celebrating a hopeful future for wildlife and the giant panda’s role as a global ambassador for peace and harmony. The overall design emphasizes tranquil, contemplative surroundings.
“This is a momentous occasion in Zoo Atlanta history. We are overjoyed to introduce Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and the all-new Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove to our community, City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, and beyond,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Members and guests who recall the original giant panda habitat will know immediately upon entry that they are in for an entirely new experience.”
Arthur M. Blank added: “The return of giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta is an exciting moment for our city as we once again become home to one of the world’s most beloved animals… The Grove will give generations of Atlantans and guests from around the world the chance to experience these remarkable animals up close, while advancing conservation research, education and global efforts to protect giant pandas for generations to come.”
With today’s opening, Zoo Atlanta joins the San Diego Zoo and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., as the only U.S. facilities currently housing giant pandas. Visitors can distinguish the pair by distinctive traits: Fu Shuang has a rounder face framed by a ridge of fur between her ears, while Ping Ping is larger and shows a “Y” pattern down the bridge of his nose.
Tickets and updates are available at zooatlanta.org. The debut restores a beloved Atlanta attraction while supporting ongoing international conservation work for one of the world’s most iconic species.