Giant pandas return to China after almost 23 years in US
almost 2 years in news
A family of three giant pandas have returned to China after spending almost 23 years at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington DC.
The return of the pandas marks the end of more than 50 years of Chinese pandas being housed at the zoo.
The three pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and their youngest cub, Xiao Qi Ji bored a FedEx plane from Dulles International Airport.
China gave giant pandas to the US as a friendly gesture after President Richard Nixon's historic visit to the country in 1972.
The return of the pandas from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo makes Atlanta the only place in the United States to house pandas, however, Atlanta's panda loan with China is set to expire next year.
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