Male giant panda Le Le celebrates his 18th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on Aug 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

It has been in a blink since giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying settled in Hong Kong 16 years ago. This summer, these two adorable animals will turn 18 years old!

The Ocean Park held a joyous birthday party for Le Le and Ying Ying on Tuesday. The beloved duo, who will turn 18 on Aug 16, was presented with icy cakes made of bamboo, sweet potatoes, carrots and pear juice. 

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“Probably the city’s most well-known and popular animal citizens, Ying Ying and Le Le play an essential role in raising public awareness of the need to conserve biodiversity,” the park said in a statement. 

Ying Ying and Le Le were presented to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 2007 as a gift from the central government, after the arrival of an earlier pair An An and Jia Jia in 1999. Jia Jia and An An died in 2016 and 2022, respectively.

Male giant panda Le Le celebrates his 18th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on Aug 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Caretakers prepare the icy cakes to celebrate giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying's 18th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on Aug 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Male giant panda Le Le celebrates his 18th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on Aug 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Caretakers prepare the icy cakes to celebrate giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying's 18th birthday at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on Aug 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)