Tai Shan (泰山) is a newly-born panda cub in the National Zoo at DC. He came to this world on July 9, and today is his 100-day birthday. In observance of Chinese custom, he had been kept nameless until this morning, when his name was released as “Tai Shan”, meaning “peaceful mountain”. This name received 44% of the 200,000 worldwide votes cast on the zoo’s online naming contest and was exactly the name I voted for, hahaha! Actually, while I was choosing from the selected 5 names for this little cutie, my instant choice was “Qiang Qiang (强强)”, since his daddy’s name is “Tian Tian (添添)”. However, “Qian Qian” somehow reminded me of “Xiao Qiang”. And eversince such an idea came into my mind, it rooted there. Out of the 4 options left, I found “Tai Shan” the best. Just don’t know if the Americans would pronounce it as “Tarzan”. 

Last March, long before Tai Shan became a fertilized egg, I luckily watched his parents, Mei Xiang (美香) and Tian Tian, having their lunch. I was attending a conference at DC and, in an early afternoon, grabbed by my labmate to the zoo. The panda house was packed with visitors, especially excited kids. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian slowly came out of their dens, sat down against the trunk of a tall bamboo tree and started their big lunch. I was totally amazed by their dexterousness. They each held a long bamboo stalk with their "fingers" and used their sharp teeth to peel off the touch outer skin, just like a child peeling the sugar cone. After several minutes of impressively-loud peeling, the bamboo stalks ended up with their inner soft tissue, which Mei Xiang and Tian Tian ate deliciously with big bites. Now this sweet, young couple got their own baby and there is a strong family bond formed between Tai Shan and Mei Xiang - he preferred to spending private time with his mother rather than attending the huge party thrown by his fans for his 100-day.

Tai Shan, wish you eat well as your parents and growth healthy and strong as your name!