A special birthday party was held on Thursday at Everland theme park in South Korea for giant panda Fu Bao, who turned 3. It might be her last birthday celebrated in the country, as according to an agreement between China and South Korea, Fu Bao is expected to be sent to China before reaching age 4.
At the birthday party, Fu Bao leisurely approached her birthday cake, adorned with bamboo and flowers and featuring three carrot-shaped birthday candles.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea presented her two keepers with plaques and commemorative albums, expressing gratitude on behalf of the panda's fans for the dedicated care provided by the Chinese and Korean expert teams.
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said: "I wish Fu Bao a happy birthday. I also want to bring this happiness to the people of China and South Korea. Fu Bao has warmed our hearts. She brought joy to people in both countries. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to thank her keepers for their efforts."
Fu Bao is the first giant panda born through natural breeding in South Korea, and she has become beloved among netizens, not only in South Korea and China, but also around the world.
Fu Bao was born on July 20, 2020 in Everland's zoo Panda World exhibition and now lives with her mother, Ai Bao, and father, Le Bao. The sizeable fan base of Fu Bao has given her a number of cute nicknames such as Miss Fu of Yongin, Princess Fu, and Chubby Fu.