After a long partnership with China and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the zoo had to send three of their most popular pandas, Mei xiang, Xiao Qi ji and Tian Tian back to their originating countries last fall.

In May, China shocked Washington by saying they would send two baby pandas to the National Zoo. The young pandas’ journey began on Oct. 14, and they landed on Oct. 15. It has been 24 years since the pandas were sent from China to the United States again. The pandas will remain at the zoo for the next 10 years with a yearly fee of $11 million.
Even though the two pandas were born in China, one of them – Bao Li – is the grandson of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. These pandas are a part of a research agreement with China, as well as conservation efforts. 

Despite the baby pandas’ grand arrival to Washington and their many fans, they must quarantine for 30 days, to then be acclimatized to the zoo before being seen by the public. They will be open to view publicly in January, just in time for the new year.