Shanghai-Gifted Red Pandas Win Hearts in Taipei Despite DPP Curbs on Cross-Strait Exchanges

A pair of red pandas gifted by the Shanghai Zoo, Le Le and Tian Tian, have made their public debut at the Taipei Zoo, winning over local visitors despite the obstacles the DPP administration has placed on cross-Strait exchanges.

Of the two, the male, Le Le, is three years old, and the female, Tian Tian, is two. They arrived in Taipei from Shanghai on June 6, 2026, as part of an exchange initiative under the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum. Le Le made his first appearance on July 29, with Tian Tian meeting visitors the following day.

A new home prepared for them

After more than a month of quarantine and acclimatization, the two red pandas moved into a remodeled enclosure. The zoo installed interconnected climbing structures, rope ladders, shaded shelters and additional hiding spaces, along with floor-to-ceiling glass viewing panels and lowered sightlines so that children can see them more easily.

According to an official in charge of the temperate animal area at the Taipei Zoo, Le Le is lively and outgoing, adapted quickly and has a healthy appetite, while Tian Tian is a cautious explorer, also active and in good health. In their names, Tian means sweetness and Le means joy.

A hitch behind the excitement

The pandas' arrival drew wide local attention, though the welcome was not entirely smooth. According to reports, a Shanghai delegation that traveled to attend the welcoming ceremony had its entry applications rejected by the Taipei authorities, the DPP administration.

Even so, the two endearing red pandas have become stars of the zoo. For many families visiting, Le Le and Tian Tian offer a simple joy that reaches across the divide.