Basi, the prototype of the mascot for Beijing Asian Games "Panpan" embraces his centenarian birthday on Nov 18.

Expert says one year in panda's life equals four years in human's, so the 25-year-old Basi is already a "centenarian" now. Wild giant panda's life span averages at 12 years.

After relaxation in the mountain regions for a summer, Basi has grown to 140 kilograms. Holding his head high, he looks noble and inviolable.

Basi is now attending a Panda Festival in Fuzhou. A grand birthday party for him will be held in the one-month event.

Southwest China's Sichuan is Basi's hometown. In 1984 when the bamboos bloomed, the hunger-stricken Basi wandered to a place called "Basigou" where he was saved by a woman farmer. In 1985 he was sent to Fuzhou.

In July 1987, Basi went to San Diego, California to give performances that lasted for half a year, which attracted 2.5 million audiences. Basi was dubbed "super animal acrobatics star" by 700 newspapers, TV stations and Radios in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan then.

In 1990 Basi arrived in Beijing to attend activities of the 11 Asian Games and became famous as the prototype of the Games' mascot "Panpan".

By People's Daily Online