Atlanta, the pandas are back. Zoo Atlanta’s longtime panda family went home to China in 2024, and since then the panda habitat in Grant Park has been quiet. That changes on Friday, Nov. 6, when two new giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, make their public debut in the newly renovated Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove.
If you grew up taking field trips to see the pandas, or you’ve got little ones who have only seen them on a screen, this is the week to start planning. Here’s what you need to know.
Meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang
- Both were born in 2020 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China.
- Ping Ping is male and Fu Shuang is female, according to local news reports.
- They landed in Atlanta on Sept. 27 aboard a FedEx flight, then spent about a month in quarantine behind the scenes.
- They are here under a 10-year conservation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
What’s new at Panda Grove
The habitat got a $6 million makeover, paid for with a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. The indoor dayrooms are bigger now, with new climbing structures and a pool for each panda. The outdoor yards have new climbing structures too, along with water features, aquatic plants and a sculpture focused on wildlife conservation.
For the pandas, that means more room to climb, splash and nap on their own schedule. For you, it means a better look at two young bears settling into their new Atlanta home.
Plan your visit
- Where: Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, inside Grant Park.
- Weekday hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 3:30 p.m. Opening day, Nov. 6, is a Friday, so weekday hours should apply.
- Weekend hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m.
- Tickets: Daytime prices change by date, so check online before you buy. Kids under 3 get in free.
- Flexible option: The zoo’s new Any Day Ticket doesn’t lock you into a date and is good through April 30, 2027.
- Closed: Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) and Christmas Day.
Tips for a smoother day
- Go on a weekday if you can. Opening weekend will likely draw a big crowd.
- Get there early, before the lines and the parking lot fill up.
- Members don’t need reservations to get in, so if you plan to visit more than once this year, do the math on a membership.
- Can’t make it this week? Zoo Atlanta streams a PandaCam on its website, so you can check in from home.
Make a Grant Park day of it
The zoo sits right in the middle of one of Atlanta’s oldest parks, so don’t rush back to the car. Bring a blanket and walk the paths while the leaves are still turning. If you’re going on a weekend, the Grant Park Farmers Market runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round at the Beacon ATL, 1040 Grant St. SE. Grab some local produce and coffee before or after the zoo.
And when the crew gets home tired and hungry from all that walking, a seafood spread makes a pretty good finish. Shrimp & Lobster Unlimited takes orders by phone or WhatsApp at (404) 314-2100.
Before you go
Details can change, especially around a big opening. Confirm hours, ticket prices and panda viewing information directly with Zoo Atlanta before you head out.
Welcome to Atlanta, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang. The city’s been waiting.
