Do you know Le Bao, nicknamed “Dancing King”, the seemingly grumpy panda and father of Fu Bao and the twins Rui Bao and Hui Bao?
Birth and early years by Le Bao, “Dancing King” of South Korea
Le Bao, nicknamed “Dancing King”, is a very special and apparently grumpy giant panda, born in China on July 28, 2012, along with his twin sister Xin Yuan. Their birth was somewhat unusual, as their mother failed to care for them, requiring the keepers to intervene through artificial insemination. For this very reason, Le Bao has always been accustomed to being surrounded by many people. In fact, when Kang Cheol-won, the keeper of the Korean zoo, went to China to learn how to care for pandas, Le Bao, unlike the shy Ai Bao, immediately approached him in a very friendly manner.
In his early years, his name was Yuan Xin, and he was a visibly lively and gentle cub. His first keeper, Wirang, developed a deep bond with him. Later, Yuan Xin was transferred to another zoo, a separation that left his "panda nanny" completely sad. Following his transfer to Korea, his name was changed to Le Bao. The bond with his first keeper was so strong that Wirang even traveled to Korea, to Everland, to see "his" Le Bao and also to say goodbye to Kang Cheol-won.
The move to South Korea
In the March 2016, Le Bao was chosen to pair up with a female panda named Hwani, who was later named Ai Bao, to go to South Korea. At the time, he was about three and a half years old and weighed 95 kg. Already during the landing of the plane, unlike Ai Bao who was sleeping, Le Bao was looking out curiously and eating a lot of food from his carrier.
His Korean name, Le Bao, was created by taking a few syllables from Everland's Chinese name. Aibao Leyuan, on the other hand, means "Paradise of Enchanting Treasures," which underscores how much Everland wanted this panda couple. After his arrival, Everland also changed his Chinese name from Wensin to Lebao, meaning "treasure that brings joy." From the first day in his Korean enclosure, Le Bao immediately felt at ease, walking, marking his territory, and eating without any signs of nervousness.
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The character
As for his character, Le Bao is known to be very cheerful and adaptable. It is also very affectionate and loves the company of people, so much so that a Sichuan breeder described him as very affectionate. He is said to be a talkative panda when he is with his favorite keeper. However, he does have his quirks. mischievous and bizarre. One of its most striking features is its extreme selectivity in food.
The famous panda will only accept foods he considers the most delicious and will refuse even high-quality bamboo shoots if they don't suit his tastes. Despite his "gourmet nature," Le Bao has a rather unconventional personality. tidier than you might think, keeping the sleeping area clean. It's also a panda playful and curious, so much so that it was nicknamed the “King of Destruction” for his tendency to break objects in his environment. He also appears to be jealous when the guardian pays attention to Ai Bao.
Family life
Le Bao's family life took a major turn in 2020 when he paired up with Ai Bao and the Their first daughter, Fu Bao, was born on July 20, 2020.. Subsequently, the 7th luglio del 2023, Ai Bao ha dato alla luce due gemelle, Rui Bao e Huibao, rendendo Le Bao padre di tre figlie. Nonostante sia un padre affettuoso, Le Bao vive separato dalla sua prole, un comportamento comune tra gli orsi e i panda maschi che potrebbero attaccare i cuccioli.
La sua capacità di diventare padre di tre cuccioli in soli due tentativi di accoppiamento è stata molto apprezzata dai fan di tutto il mondo, che hanno lodato la sua “forza”. Il 3 giugno 2026, Lebao è diventato nuovamente padre e a settembre 2026 verrà annunciato il suo nome. Oggi, invece, si sta preparando per salutare le due gemelle, Rui e Hui che a dicembre torneranno in Cina.
The habits of the cute “Dancing King” Lebao
Among his most notable behaviors and habits, his particularly frequent and sometimes unusual sleeping positions stand out. Le Bao has developed a strong preference for a wooden structure in his enclosure, turning it into a sort of "“cat tower”"where he loves to sleep and spend time. In the past, he has had episodes of hair loss, but tests confirmed that it was not due to skin diseases. It is interesting to note his reaction during an attempted blood pressure measurement: Ai Bao cooperated, while he was frightened and shook the keeper's hand. He loves playing in the snow and particularly enjoyed the sweet-tasting wild carrots.
The popularity
There Le Bao's popularity has grown steadily in Korea, reaching new heights with the fame of her daughter Fu Bao. She is often called “God of Entertainment” for his daily life full of funny moments. In China, thanks to the videos about his life, he is known by the nickname “famous actor“. A meme is also circulating among his fans calling him a “superior male panda” for having fathered three daughters. Given his passion for marking his territory with movements that involve his whole body, Le Bao has also earned the nickname “Dancing King“.
Regarding his health, Le Bao has recently experienced weight gain, reaching 130 kg. To help him lose weight, park keepers have set up a wooden climbing frame in his enclosure. His hair loss episodes have also been treated with laser therapy, in collaboration with China. On one occasion, in February 2025, he appeared tired and had mucus-filled stools, but medical staff reassured his keepers that this is completely normal for pandas. Regardless, Le Bao is a lively and affectionate panda, with very unusual food preferences and a tendency to cause trouble. His life in Korea, his family, and his unique behavior have made him a much-loved and popular figure.