Drums, Clangs Herald Naming of Baby Panda
He’s only 100 days old, and already panda Tai Shan has his face on T-shirts at the National Zoo, after a naming ceremony punctuated by drumbeats, a clanging gong and Chinese lion dancers.
Tai Shan, which means “peaceful mountain,” got his name according to Chinese custom and as the result of an online contest in which more than 202,000 people voted.
The 13-pound guest of honor remained in seclusion with his mother, Mei Xiang, during the ceremony outside the zoo’s panda exhibit, as dignitaries from China offered their congratulations.
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