Hua Hua is super rotund, upside-down teardrop-shaped eye circles, short jaw, sharp muzzle which is likened to that of a fox, and fluffy snow-white fur compared to other pandas.
She has short legs which she allegedly inherited from great-grandfather Zhen Zhen (Zhen Zhen is the father of Yang Yang, who is the father of Mei Lan; Zhen Zhen also has a daughter, Dan Dan, who is known for her short legs), and has overpronated right hind paw which hinders her speed and ability to climb trees. She also has two rows of teeth which she inherited from her father Mei Lan, which weakens her jaw strength and hinders her eating.
Life
Hua Hua and her twin sister He Ye were born on 4 July 2020, to parents Cheng Gong and Mei Lan.[1][4] Due to their mother's age (having given birth at 20 years old, which is equivalent to 80 in human years), the two cubs were fostered by other pandas alongside their own cubs. She is currently displayed at the Chengdu Panda Base.[citation needed]
Hua Hua was initially the larger and stronger twin, weighing 200 grams at birth (her sister He Ye weighed 167 grams) and was the second-heaviest panda cub among the 2020 batch of newborn cubs. However, due to her short legs, combined with her double-rowed teeth which hinders her eating and in turn impedes her growth rate, Hua Hua hence looks significantly smaller than other pandas her age. While she does struggle to climb trees, she has succeeded several times, though she climbs very slowly and occasionally displays trouble in climbing down.[citation needed]
Popularity
Hua Hua gained popularity amongst netizens for her unique appearance and gentle personality.[2] Her chubby appearance which people have compared to that of an onigiri, her "ability" to understand Sichuan slang, as well as her tendency to allow other pandas in the base to steal her food, has sparked sympathy and interest within internet users.[5] On the blogging platform Weibo, Hua Hua's hashtag has garnered nearly 1.6 billion engagements, a dedicated "super discussion" group about her on Chinese social media has 670,000 members, and individual videos about her on TikTok have garnered 2.6 million views.[3][4][6] She has become known as one of China's "celebrity pandas", being featured as a "guest" for the 2024 Spring Festival Gala,[5][7] and even being given the honorary position of Director of Chengdu Culture and Tourism Bureau.
Hua Hua's popularity has caused increased amounts of tourism to the Chengdu Panda Base, with tourists lining up half an hour before the base opens and waiting for hours simply to get a glimpse of her in her exhibit. The resulting "panda mania" has caused hotel bookings nearby to increase 3.2 times compared to the previous year, as well as increasing popularity of panda-related souvenirs such as panda dolls, headbands, and backpacks.[8] Hua Hua has proven to be so popular among internet users and tourists that the Chengdu Panda base was forced to restrict visitor entry due to the sheer amount of visitors.[2][6]
^"大熊猫"花花"履新成都文旅局荣誉局长 邀八方客赴蓉游世园会-侨报网" [Giant panda 'Hua Hua' takes over as Chengdu Cultural and Tourism Bureau's honourary director, invites guests from all over the world to visit the World Expo in Chengdu.]. The China Press (in Chinese). April 25, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
