The first-ever panda seen in the United Kingdom, named Ming, arrived in London in 1938, a date much earlier than many people might expect. As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a new children’s picture book is set to revive Ming’s story, highlighting the value of peace.
Co-authored by Chinese-British illustrator Yu Rong and British children’s book writer Jake Hope, the English edition of Ming: The Panda is scheduled for release on Oct 16.
Ming was born in China’s southwestern Sichuan province in 1937. At the time, as China was gripped by the brutal war against Japanese aggression and stretched too thin for wildlife preservation, Ming was unfortunately captured by hunters, taken by road to Hong Kong, and ended up in London on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1938.
The cuddly furball, acquired by London Zoo, soon became the talk of the town. Amid the turmoil of World War II, visits to see Ming offered a sense of normalcy and served as a morale booster for British children. Two young royals, Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, were among those children.
At the outbreak of the war, Ming was evacuated to another zoo 60 kilometers from the capital, but made repeated return trips to London.
Yu believed that Ming’s story should be passed down from generation to generation. Her courage in settling into a foreign country as a cub, the comfort and hope she brought to countless people during the darkness of wartime, and many other aspects of her life teach children important universal values, she said.
Most of all, the story shows how hard-won peace is truly precious, she added.
“The world today is still full of conflicts and wars, and there are many places still striving for peace. That’s why we wanted to bring Ming’s story to life,” said Yu. “It happened here in the UK, and at the time, the people who loved Ming the most were children. I hope that through this connection, young readers today can relate to the turbulence in the world and, through Ming’s spirit as a messenger of peace, be inspired to reflect on it.”
For children, a real-life story with a sense of familiarity can have greater educational power, Yu explained.
“If I told kids not to waste food because there are places where people are struggling with starvation, they didn’t really understand, since they’ve never experienced hunger.
“Similarly, if you talk to children about war, they can’t truly grasp it while living in a peaceful country. Looking at pictures alone isn’t enough for them to truly feel the suffering of people living through wars.”
New book honors the panda that brought hope to London in WWII
