Washington's own cuddly superstar, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji, had a blast on his third birthday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on Monday (August 21).

Zoo staff treated the fluffy fellow to a scrumptious panda-special fruitsicle cake whipped up by the zoo's top-notch nutritionists. This fancy treat, made with frosty apple and pineapple juice, was decked out with apples, sweet spuds, carrots, and a dash of bamboo. And get this, it even had a big "3" on top。

Crowds swarmed the panda pad bright and early, serenading Xiao Qi Ji with birthday tunes as he tucked into his chilly treat.

Virginia Beach's own Jamie Quick, rocking a tee with Xiao munching bamboo, gushed, "Happy third, Xiao Qi Ji! They're just the cutest. These pandas...they've been my rock. Oh, and Xiao? He's my top panda!" She's even got China on her travel bucket list to meet more of these adorable creatures.

The big boss of Smithsonian's Zoo, Brandie Smith, chimed in, "Our boy's fit as a fiddle, tipping the scales at 200 pounds. He's a testament to one of the world's best conservation tales. Kudos to our pals in China for making it happen."

STORY: Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji celebrates 3rd birthday at U.S. zoo
DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: Washington D.C.
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the panda cub
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAMIE QUICK, Visitor from Virginia Beach
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BRANDIE SMITH, Director of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
4. various of the panda cub

STORYLINE:

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji celebrated his third birthday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Monday.

Animal care staff presented Xiao Qi Ji with a special panda-friendly fruitsicle cake made by the zoo's nutritionists in the morning.

Keepers crafted the multi-tiered cake and "3" topper using frozen diluted apple and pineapple juices and decorated the tiers with apples, sweet potatoes, carrots and bamboo sprigs.

Many visitors came to the giant panda habitat early in the morning for Xiao Qi Ji's birthday celebration and sang the birthday song together as the male cub ate the cake.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAMIE QUICK, Visitor from Virginia Beach
"Happy third birthday, Xiao Qi Ji. And I love you. They're just... they're adorable. I love them. They have helped me through trying times in my life, so... I just love pandas. I love all animals but pandas especially, and Xiao Qi Ji is my favorite."

Wearing a T-shirt printed with a picture of Xiao Qi Ji eating bamboo, Quick added that she would love to go to China to see giant pandas there.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BRANDIE SMITH, Director of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
"Xiao Qi Ji is a very healthy, happy cub. He weighs a little over 200 pounds, I know, when people come to see him he looks as big as his parents, so he's doing really well. It's one of the world's most successful conservation histories and 15 years of collaboration and coordination to save an endangered species."

Smith lauded the collaboration between American and Chinese experts and scientists to study and save the species.

Xiao Qi Ji's mother, Mei Xiang, turned 25 years old in July. Tian Tian, the cub's biological father, will mark his 26th birthday later this month.

The three pandas will leave the United States by December, according to the zoo. A farewell celebration will be held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C.
(XHTV)