Tue Oct 15 11:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Panda-monium in D.C.: Two New Giant Pandas Arrive From China
**WASHINGTON, D.C. -** After a nearly year-long absence, panda-lovers in D.C. are rejoicing as two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, are set to touch down at Dulles International Airport Tuesday. The pair, both three years old, are making the journey from China as part of a continued partnership between the U.S. and China for giant panda conservation.
Bao Li and Qing Bao, who were accompanied by bamboo shoots and carrots, will be the first new pandas to arrive in D.C. in 24 years. Bao Li is the son of Bao Bao, who was born at the National Zoo in 2013, adding a special significance to the arrival.
The “Panda Express,” a FedEx Boeing 777 cargo jet carrying the pandas, is expected to land Tuesday, marking the return of the beloved creatures to the National Zoo. The exhibit, which drew millions of visitors annually, was left empty after the previous three pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, were sent back to China in November 2023. Since their departure, the zoo has upgraded the enclosure to provide visitors with an even better view of the pandas.
The arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao is seen as a positive sign for the continuation of “panda diplomacy,” which saw a mass exodus of pandas from U.S. zoos in recent years as leases expired. Chinese President Xi Jinping reassured the world that China would continue to send pandas to the U.S., calling them “envoys of friendship” between the two nations.
National Zoo staff and fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new pandas, who are sure to bring joy and excitement to D.C. for years to come.
First Piper 