Watch: Giant Panda Cub Loves Playing In The Snow At DC's National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — The winter storm that blanketed the D.C. area last week caused headaches for drivers and residents who lost power across Virginia. But at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., giant panda cub, Xiao Qi Ji, who is only 16 months old, was having the time of his life.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute tweeted a video of Xiao Qi Ji playing in the several inches of snow.

The panda cub, born in August 2020, tumbled into the bushes and slid headfirst on his belly down a small hill in his enclosure. Later, Xiao Qi Ji and his mother, Mei Xiang, can be seen playing in the trees.

On Facebook, the National Zoo explained that Xiao Qi Ji was a little wary during his first encounter with snow a year ago, when he was only four months old. This winter, the 16-month-old did not hesitate at all, plowing face-first into the fresh powder.

"His belly-sliding skills are 10/10,” the National Zoo said.

Xiao Qi Ji, who was born Aug. 21, 2020, tends to be active early in the morning and early afternoon. This past summer, he was still taking frequent naps. Giant pandas prefer their cooled indoor habitats when temperatures rise in the summer, according to the zoo.

Xiao Qi Ji, whose name translates to “little miracle” in English, is only 89 pounds, but he will get much bigger. Wild male giant pandas can grow up to 3 feet tall, 6 feet long and weigh up to 250 pounds, according to the National Zoo.

On his first birthday in August, Xiao Qi Ji shared two fruitsicle cakes with his mother, Mei Xiang.

Over the next week, the National Zoo is closed on Wednesday and Thursday and will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You can watch a livestream of the National Zoo giant pandas here.