Names Chosen for Popular Pandas

Dunedin (Wednesday, 7 August 2013) The pandas which delighted crowds of children at the Dunedin Chinese Garden recently have now been named.

Two volunteers donned panda costumes from China as part of the July school holiday programme. Garden Visitor Services Officer Ute Keck says as part of panda-themed activities, a panda naming competition was held and almost 70 entries received.

The winning names are Yong Qi (pronounced Yong Chi), which means courage, for the boy panda and Xuan ze (pronounced Shenza), which means chosen one, for the girl panda.

The winning names were submitted by Dararith Lu and Imogen Yates-Aitken, both of Dunedin. They each receive a book about pandas, a cuddly panda toy and a certificate.

Ms Keck says the criteria for the names included that they were relevant to the panda’s native country of China, how appealing the names were and how easy they were for speakers of various languages to pronounce and remember.

“We are thrilled to have Yong Qi and Xuan ze as a permanent part of the Garden so keep an eye out for them next time you visit.”

The pandas were a big attraction over the two-week holiday break, with 50-60 children visiting each day. The goal was to reach the city’s younger audience, in a bid to build long-term relationships which would see them returning to the Garden.

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