Tianjin Zoo has held a party to celebrate a giant panda's 24th birthday, with many children offering birthday wishes to the elderly animal.

This giant panda come from Sichuan Nature Reserve and has been in Tianjin for about five years.

24 is an old age for pandas, and this bamboo-munching elder is very popular with Tianjin citizens.

The giant panda, with its distinctive black and white markings, is one of the most endangered animals in the world, and is unique to China.

(CRI.com January 29, 2004)