Giant Pandas return to Washington National Zoo, extending two decade tradition with China

The two giant pandas that China has sent to the National Zoo is Washington, D.C., arrived Tuesday in the United States. They arrived nearly a year after the zoo's last three pandas left for China, leaving D.C. without pandas for the first time in over two decades.

The pair of 3-year old giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, arrived Tuesday morning at Dulles airport, about 25 minutes outside of D.C., in suburban Virginia, then headed to the zoo, officially known as the National Zoological Park. The arrived at about noon. 

“As a result of our collective efforts [with China,] today we joyfully celebrate a new chapter of our 52-year-long giant panda breeding and conservation program," said zoo Director Brandie Smith.

The bears left Sunday night from the southwestern Chinese city of Dujiangyan, according to a statement by the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

In May, officials announced that China planned to send a pair of young pandas but didn't provide an official arrival date.

The zoo on Monday posted an alert on its website stating the entire facility would be closed Tuesday, without giving a reason.

The bears will spend an extended time in quarantine and acclimation before they are introduced to the public, which the Associated Press reports will not be until January 2025.