An airplane transporting giant pandas is seen at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
DULLES (U.S.), Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their male cub Xiao Qi Ji departed the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, wrapping up their stay in the United States and embarking on a journey back to China.
At a brief ceremony held at the zoo, keepers escorted three special crates each holding one panda to travel on Olmsted Walk in front of members of the press. The crates were later loaded on trucks heading to the Dulles International Airport.
Prior to the emergence of the panda crates, the zoo staff loaded supplies including 100 kg of bamboo on the trucks for the pandas to consume during their flight to China.
Staff members transfer a special crate holding giant panda Mei Xiang at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
When the convoy arrived at the Dulles International Airport, journalists and officials had already gathered on the tarmac, expecting the final farewell moment for the cuddly cuties.
A FedEx Express Boeing 777 Freighter with a huge giant panda picture painted outside the cockpit was parked with its cargo cabin gate open, ready to load the pandas onboard and carry out the transport mission. FedEx had flown similar missions for other pandas in the United States that went back to China.
As part of the effort to ensure a comfortable flight for the three pandas, two keepers and a veterinarian will accompany the bears on board the plane, which is heading for the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. The duration of flight is expected to be about 19 hours, including a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska.
A special crate holding one giant panda is ready to be loaded onto an airplane at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Special crates holding giant pandas are ready to be loaded onto an airplane at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Special crates holding giant pandas are ready to be loaded onto an airplane at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Special crates holding giant pandas are being loaded onto an airplane at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
Special crates holding giant pandas are being loaded onto an airplane at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
An airplane transporting giant pandas is seen at the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
An airplane transporting giant pandas takes off from the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
An airplane transporting giant pandas takes off from the Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)■