A Little Boy Traveled 400 Miles Just to Meet Pandas-And He Had No Idea What Was Waiting for Him
According to one mom on TikTok, their "eight-year-old has been obsessed with pandas since he was three." Well this year, his family went on a 400-mile trip to France so their little boy could see a panda up close.
In a TikTok video, @justjo_jo shares this heartfelt family moment. The post caption explains it all: "So imagine travelling over 400 miles from the UK to France to surprise him with seeing one in real life… and he puts on this little performance. So close too! Core memories made. Highly recommend @ZooParc de Beauval It was more than worth the trip!!!"
@justjo_jo My 8yr old has been obsessed with Panda's since he was a 3…. So Imagine travelling over 400 miles from the UK to France to surprise him with seeing one in real life….and he puts on this little performance so close too! Core memories made Highly recommend @ZooParc de Beauval it was more than worth the trip!!! #funnypanda#pandasoftiktok#pandalovers#pandavideo#cutepanda
Happy Wiggle - Pet Circus
Talk about a surprise! In the clip, this kid watches as a lively panda moves around the habitat at the ZooParc de Beauval. The panda starts tumbling right in front of him, and the boy couldn't be happier watching as the panda rolls around.
Commenters were as amused as the young boy when watching the viral TikTok video. @sophipbk867 said, "I'm not sure what I love more, the roly-poly panda or your son's gorgeous reaction. "
@vbgoj5 added, "This made me laugh in such a sweet innocent way… such joy! This should be viral!" At this point, the video has over 900K views, but it's all about the experience for this parent. They wrote back to this commenter, replying, "It made his little life, honestly. "
Some viewers had thoughts about the panda's playful tumbles. ": This is my greatest fan? Okay, lemme put on a show... ," joked @carizzachua, and @lamaquy wrote, "He said, 'this is for you.'"
Related: Newborn Panda Cubs Make Their Debut to Public in Absolutely Precious Video
Why This Panda Encounter Is So Special
Aside from this panda sighting, it can be hard for zoo goers to catch a panda this awake and energetic. That's because pandas sleep for most of the day. The Zoo Parc de Beauval's website notes that Giant pandas can sleep between 10 and 20 hours per day. So, unless people visit when they're awake, they won't have the same experience as this kid. It's great that this young panda lover was able to witness a panda in action!
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 8:20 AM.