Smithsonian National Zoo: Bao Li, Qing Bao & the Panda Cam

Updated October 3, 2026

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, DC, is home to two giant pandas — male Bao Li (宝力) and female Qing Bao (青宝). The zoo's famous Giant Panda Cam is live daily from 7am to 7pm ET, then shows a 12-hour replay. The zoo is free to visit.

Panda cam hours: live 7:00am–7:00pm ET every day; after 7pm the feed switches to a pre-recorded replay of the last 12 hours. Watch the cam →

The two pandas

Bao Li (宝力) — male

Born: August 4, 2021, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Sichuan
Arrived in DC: October 15, 2024; public debut January 24, 2025
Name meaning: "Bao" means precious/treasure; "Li" means vitality and strength
Family: His mother Bao Bao was born at the National Zoo in 2013; grandparents Tian Tian and Mei Xiang were longtime National Zoo residents

Qing Bao (青宝) — female

Born: September 12, 2021, in China (celebrated her 5th birthday on September 12, 2026)
Arrived in DC: October 15, 2024; public debut January 24, 2025
Name meaning: "Qing" evokes youth and vitality; "Bao" means treasure

Courtship update: spring 2026

In spring 2026, keepers observed Bao Li and Qing Bao showing interest in one another through the "howdy" window in the panda habitat — the classic sign that breeding season has arrived. As of early October 2026, no cub or pregnancy has been announced. Panda breeding windows are short, and the zoo reports updates when there is news.

Visiting the pandas in person

Where: Asia Trail at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC
Cost: Free (the zoo has no admission fee)
Hours: The zoo is open daily; panda habitat viewing depends on the season and animal care schedules
Tip: Early mornings and late afternoons are when pandas are most active

About the panda cam

The National Zoo's Giant Panda Cam is operated by a corps of specially trained volunteers from a central system. When Bao Li and Qing Bao made their public debut on January 24, 2025, the zoo relaunched the cam — it was upgraded to 40 cameras, with three console machines and a new monitoring room. That's why the cam returns a reliable daily live window.

Sources

This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.