Under the vibrant red lanterns and festive decorations at the San Diego Zoo, the spirit of the Chinese New Year came alive, captivating visitors young and old.

Among them was 12-year-old Annabel from Tierra del Sol Middle School in Los Angeles, who couldn't contain her excitement as she held a fluffy giant panda toy. Dressed in a stunning cheongsam embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, she shared her enthusiasm during the Chinese New Year celebrations at the San Diego Zoo on Feb 2.

"This is a dress many people wear around Chinese New Year. It has dragons and birds in it. It's amazing!" Annabel told China Daily.

Students and teachers from various schools, including St. Genevieve High School, International Studies Learning Center, and Marlborough School, immersed themselves in the rich traditions of Chinese New Year at the zoo's Panda Ridge, which was adorned with festive mascots and cultural symbols.

Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun, who attended the celebrations, emphasized the importance of youth exchanges in fostering closer ties between China and the United States.

"American youths, including the students who are with us today, are most welcome to visit and see China with their own eyes and travel the expanse of the country with their own feet. It is hoped that the two peoples will engage in more visits, dialogues and exchanges," he said.

Visitors not only received traditional red envelopes but also had the opportunity to hang their good wishes on a wishing tree adorned with kumquats and peach blossoms. Five-year-old Mackenzie, accompanied by her mother, carefully tied a red ribbon to a branch. Her heartfelt wish read, "Save the baby pandas".

The connection between the San Diego Zoo and the Chinese New Year is deeply rooted in the zoo's longstanding commitment to panda conservation.

Since 1994, the zoo has collaborated with Chinese institutions on panda conservation efforts, a partnership that has yielded remarkable results. The survival rate of panda cubs has risen from 10 percent to over 90 percent, and the species' status has improved from "endangered" to "vulnerable".

Last June, two beloved pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, arrived at the zoo, marking a new chapter in this conservation journey. Their arrival was celebrated with the grand opening of Panda Ridge on Aug 8, which was officially proclaimed as "California Panda Day" by Governor Gavin Newsom.

"I am pleased to know that thousands of visitors have come to the Panda Ridge since last August. I am confident that we can work together to promote the friendship between our two peoples," said Guo.

Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, highlighted the 30-year collaboration with Chinese partners in wildlife conservation, underscoring the power of collective efforts in protecting endangered species and ecosystems.

"We've had such an amazingly rich history with the giant panda conservation efforts that we've done collaboratively with our partners in China," Baribault told China Daily. "We look forward to the next generation of that work starting. We're just at the beginning of that right now."

As Guo and Baribault distributed festive mascots, including giant pandas, cloth snakes and clay snakes, children and parents eagerly gathered to receive their favorite keepsakes. This year, the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes grace, smoothness, prosperity and the cycle of life.

For Cassandra Wong, principal of the Chinese School of San Diego, the celebration brought back memories of her school's annual Chinese New Year festivities.

"We have a big Chinese New Year event each year with House of China, a cultural center in San Diego," Wong told China Daily. "We showcase Chinese culture through performances like lion dances, dragon parades and face-changing."

Established over a century ago, the Chinese School remains a pillar of cultural education, serving a diverse student body, many of whom are descendants of early Chinese immigrants.

"We do hope that China and America continue to bridge and … foster friendly relationships through our Chinese culture and pandas," Wong added.