VIDEO: Panda Cub Bei Bei -- Look How Much He's Grown!

PHOTO: Bei Bei during his checkup Thursday; screen grab from video released Friday by the National Zoo.

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The National Zoo’s celebrated Giant Panda cub, Bei Bei, is growing fast. A video released Friday by the zoo shows he’s getting teeth and his legs are getting stronger.

Watch the video here:

The giant panda cub born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Aug. 22 received his name, Bei Bei (BAY-BAY), which means “precious, treasure” and is complementary to his sister’s name, Bao Bao.

In celebration of the state visit and as a special honor for the cub, the name was selected by First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and First Lady of the People’s Republic of China, Peng Liyuan.

Panda keepers at the National Zoo and panda keepers at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province, where the cub will live after he turns 4 years old, each contributed one name for consideration.

“Species conservation is at the heart of our mission at the National Zoo,” Skorton said. “We are honored to have First Lady Michelle Obama and First Lady Peng Liyuan join us to celebrate the more than four-decade history of China and the Smithsonian working together to preserve giant pandas, and to name the newest addition to our panda family.”

Historically, as giant pandas are indigenous only to China, the National Zoo has named panda cubs when they turn 100 days old in a nod to Chinese culture and traditions. Centuries ago, it was common for parents to name their newborns when they reached 100 days. Parents in China no longer wait to name their children, but it is still customary to host a celebration when a baby turns 100 days old. Scientists and keepers at giant panda breeding and research centers in China do not wait 100 days to name cubs born at those facilities.

The chosen name, Bei Bei, was submitted by panda keepers from Wolong. National Zoo panda keepers submitted Ping Ping, which means peaceful and calm.

The National Zoo received a state gift of two pandas in 1972 following the seminal state visit of President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Patricia Nixon to China. The two bears, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, lived out their lives at the Zoo.

The Zoo’s current pair of adult pandas, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian, came to the Zoo in 2000. They have produced three surviving cubs: Tai Shan (tie-SHON), who lives in China, Bao Bao and Bei Bei.