Ni Hao! My name is Lu Lu and I’ve recently celebrated my third birthday here at Bifengxia! The bamboo I eat still towers over my small frame but my jaws are just as powerful as any adult bear here. You’ll find me in Baixiongping 7, the most beautiful area of the base (in my opinion). I love sleeping as much as the next panda but you’ll often find me exploring my pen, nose firmly pressed to the ground. In a past life, I was probably one of the panda pioneers, discovering new territories high up in the trees, untouched by any species.

After a long day of eating, my favorite place to relax is in my hammock. I feel like a queen on her throne, miles above the strange, hairless pandas that visit the window of my chambers. I often wonder how those pandas stay warm without fur like mine or how they eat with such dull teeth. In my hammock, I dream of climbing to the highest branches, peering over the vast forest while the birds and cicadas sing songs of my brave adventures. That, and an endless feast of panda bread.

My best friend and current neighbor is Xiang Ge, a much older male panda. His favorite things are bamboo and the sound of his own voice. During our daily chats across our pens, he tells me his opinion of the weather, the quality of the carrots we get, the hairless pandas that clean his bedroom every day, the arrangement of his pen, the arrangement of my pen, the list goes on and on. I laugh at his jokes and he laughs when I call him a grumpy old panda. He may act all tough, but I know he secretly loves all the attention he gets. Be sure to say hi to me if you ever come visit the base. I love meeting new guests, despite your odd looks and behaviors. Xiang Ge likes the company too, even though he won’t admit it. See you in Bifengxia!

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Hallie Kirschner is our dedicated Stereotypic Study observer. As such, she gets to see multiple bears and will continue to deliver this hilarious take on the BFX pandas in the future. Look for her next installment with  I Speak Panda- Part 2 in a few weeks.