National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Olmsted Walk Floor Plan
Asia Trail is home to the Smithsonian's National Zoo’s most famous residents: giant pandas Tian Tian (adult male) and Mei Xiang (adult female) and a new male panda cub Xiao Qi Ji (SHIAU-chi-ji).
Visitor note: Asia Trail/Panda Passes are no longer required to visit the exhibits along Asia Trail, including giant pandas. Smithsonian National Zoo Members have exclusive access to the lower panda yard viewing area and the indoor panda house from 8–9 a.m. every day throughout the summer. As a reminder for the public, Xiao Qi Ji is still young and sleeps a lot during the day. Xiao Qi Ji along with his parents can be viewed on the Zoo’s live panda cams.
Ever since the first giant pandas arrived at the Zoo in 1972, animal care staff and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists have studied giant panda biology, behavior, breeding, reproduction, disease, ecology, and habitat in order to advance conservation efforts around the world. For those that can’t see the pandas in person at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, online visitors can catch a glimpse on the Panda Cam, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund.
Red pandas, Asian small-clawed otters, clouded leopards, fishing cats and sloth bears are the other residents along Asia Trial. Visitors can see sloth bears vacuum up mealworms from artificial termite mounds, watch fishing cats wade into pools, and observe Asian small-clawed otters scurry from the banks of a shallow stream to a roaring waterfall.
