Panda pair makes debut with rousing welcome

Sharing recipes

"Our China team shared a recipe with them for making wowotou — that's a type of steamed corn bread. The US experts are using our recipe and methods to whip up their own local panda bread. It seems like the pandas are really taking to it, which is great," she said.

Wendt introduced the pandas to the public and pointed to the sleepy panda lying on his back.

"Yun Chuan, he is what you call a laid-back panda. He particularly likes to sleep in the morning. He'll sit up, explore a little bit, and then roll over and find a snack," Wendt said.

"His priorities are sleeping and eating his bamboo, taking that midday nap, and going back to some bamboo (to) eat again. Very chill panda."

But Xin Bao is quite different.

"She is a very playful panda, super curious as well," said Wendt, adding that she is an "excellent climber".

"I cannot wait for the public to come here to the San Diego Zoo and experience these vibrant personalities," he said.

Xin Bao has a round face and big ears, while Yun Chuan has a long, slightly pointed nose tip.

The two pandas' names also have a special bond with the city of San Diego.

"Xin Bao" means a "precious treasure of prosperity and abundance", and the Chinese character xin is made of three jin, which is the Chinese character for gold, a tribute to the Golden State, California.