Giant panda Basi eats at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
A keeper plays with giant panda Basi at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Nov. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating bamboo leaves at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
Giant panda Basi takes a stroll at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Nov. 28, 2005 shows giant panda Basi wanders at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Nov. 18, 2005, after being sent to a nearby mountain for summer resort. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi greeting spectators at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, at her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows people preparing a cake for giant panda Basi to celebrate her 25th birthday in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi eating a cake at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, to celebrate her 25th birthday. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
Giant panda Basi eats bamboo leaves at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
A keeper plays with giant panda Basi at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
File photo taken on Nov. 18, 2005 shows giant panda Basi being carried to return to the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, after staying in a nearby summer resort. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
Giant panda Basi eats bamboo leaves at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
A keeper plays with giant panda Basi at the panda research and exchange center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 25, 2015. Basi celebrated her 35th birthday on Nov. 28, 2015, which roughly equals 130 years in human age. Basi is currently the oldest living panda so far in the world. Basi in 1987 visited the US San Diego Zoo for shows. She attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her six-month stay in the United States and amazed many visitors by her acrobatic performances. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot for the Beijing Asian Games. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
The world's third oldest panda celebrated its 35th birthday, an equivalent of more than 100 human years, on Saturday in east China's Fuzhou City, capital of Fujian Province.
Basi is the most long-lived panda on the Chinese mainland, and possibly the most famous. In 1990, she was chosen as the prototype for Pan Pan, the mascot of the Beijing Asian Games. She got her name after being rescued from the Basi Gorge in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
She has survived several bouts of illness since 2000, including hypertension and pancreatitis. She was also the first panda to successfully undergo cataract surgery.
Birthday celebrations have been ongoing since May, featuring activities to raise public awareness of panda protection. A one-minute animation featuring Basi also began a 10-day showing on a screen in New York's Times Square on Sept. 21.
The average lifespan of wild pandas is 15 years, while those in captivity usually live longer due to better nutrition and living conditions.
