News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The adorable moment a playful young panda experiences snow for the first time has been captured on film.

Sixteen-month-old cub Bao Bao plays roly-poly down a hill at her Washington DC zoo, before climbing trees and then joyfully bouncing into the arms of her waiting mum Mei Xiang.

Zookeepers released the winter footage, which is warming hearts across the globe with nearly 400,000 views in less than a day.

(Image: YouTube)

It was posted on the Smithsonian's National Zoo YouTube channel with the caption: "As the year’s first blanket of snow coated the Washington, D.C. area today, giant panda Bao Bao spent much of the morning playing in it for the very first time.

"The sixteen month-old panda cub tumbled down the hill in her outdoor enclosure, climbed trees and pounced on her mother Mei Xiang. Our great cats, seals and wolves also enjoyed the wintry weather."

One viewer wrote: "Oh my gosh, these pandas playing in the snow are adorable!" and another with the username Mathew Ingram added: "This is right off the cute-o-meter."