It’s official! Hong Kong's beloved giant panda twins — previously known as "Elder Sister" and "Little Brother" — are named Jia Jia and De De.

The giant panda cubs were born last August to parents Ying Ying and Le Le, who were gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Chinese character "Jia" conveys "support" and has the same pronunciation for "home" and "auspicious" in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

"De" in Chinese suggests "a can-do spirit", and the name carries the connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. The character also shares the same pronunciation for "virtue" in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

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The cubs made their public debut on February 16 when they turned six months old. They have made headlines since their birth and won the hearts of many on social media along the way.

Ocean Park, where they live, has tailored special meeting sessions for the pandas as a special offering to visitors. Hong Kong has also proactively pushed for a "panda economy" as the city now hosts six pandas in total.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said at the event held to announce the names of the giant panda twin cubs that when she sifted through the names suggested by residents, she could feel the public’s love for the twin cubs, and that all the names that were submitted were imbued with profound symbolism.

The birth of the panda twins marked a significant achievement in the nation’s and Hong Kong’s panda conservation efforts, Law said. She thanked the central government for its meticulous guidance and robust support of Hong Kong's panda conservation work over the years, which she said reflected the country's care and concern for the SAR.  

At the same event, Paulo Pong Kin-yee, chairman of the board of Ocean Park Corp, said that the park has seen a significant increase in the number of visitors over the past six months, rising by nearly 40 percent during the May Day Golden Week holiday. The park’s total revenue also grew by 40 percent over the same period, and the number of nonlocal visitors to the park has increased by more than 20 percent year-on-year, he noted.

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Since the birth of the panda cubs, panda displays are now frequently seen in many shopping malls, Pong said.

Recently, the park has been promoting its Panda Friends collection, and has collaborated with jewelry firms, food companies, and phone case brands for cross-promotions, Pong said.

He said that Ocean Park currently offers over 500 panda-related products, and that he is confident that visitor numbers will continue to grow, adding that the park is exploring introducing other activities to attract more tourists.

The twin cubs now each weigh over 21 kilograms, and Ocean Park has recently expanded their habitat to include the highland area near the entrance to Giant Panda Adventure, which officially opens on Tuesday. The glass doors between visitors and the pandas have been removed, allowing visitors a more interactive experience.  

The naming competition for the twins was launched on February 15, with a total of 35,700 suggestions having been submitted. Hong Kong resident Lee Yuk-fan suggested the names Jia Jia and De De; as the winner of the competition, she can claim prizes worth over HK$22,000 ($2,800).

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com