2 Giant Pandas Return To DC's Smithsonian Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — Panda lovers, rejoice: 11 months after the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. sent its trio of giant pandas back to China, the facility will welcome two new bears on Tuesday.

The “Panda Express” — a FedEx Boeing 777 cargo jet carrying the bears — landed at Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, WTOP reported. On board were Bao Li and Qing Bao, two 3-year-old giant pandas who came from a research facility in the southwestern Chinese city of Dujiangyan.

“Food prepared for the trip includes cornbread, bamboo and carrots, as well as water and medicine,” a statement from the China Wildlife Conservation Association said, adding that the partnership will "make new contributions in protecting global biodiversity and enhance the friendship of the people from the two countries."

The National Zoo was closed Tuesday to prepare for the pair's arrival, according to a statement on the facility's Facebook page.

Last November, panda fans were devastated when Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, left the zoo and returned to China. Their departure marked the first time in 50 years that no pandas were at the zoo.

The first giant pandas came to the United States in 1972 after Chinese officials gifted two to former first lady Patricia Nixon and the American people as a gesture of goodwill. Nixon selected the National Zoo as the panda's home and welcomed Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing on April 16 that year.

Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure) will arrive in Washington as part of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. The previous deal expired last year, leading to some concern that Beijing was gradually pulling its furry friendship ambassadors from American zoos amid rising diplomatic tensions.

Breeding pairs in zoos in Memphis and San Diego had already returned to China earlier and the four pandas in the Atlanta zoo left for China last week.

However, anxiety turned to optimism last November when Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly stated a desire to continue the panda exchange programs. This year, a new pair of bears has been delivered to the San Diego Zoo, while another pair has been promised to San Francisco.

National Zoo officials have not publicly released many details about Bao Li and Qing Bao's arrival, they expressed optimism about striking a new deal and launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation.

In late May, zoo director Brandie Smith teamed up with first lady Jill Biden to announce that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.