DC’s giant pandas depart National Zoo for China

FedEx Panda Express leaves for China

The three pandas were moved onto the FedEx Panda Express, a custom-decaled Boeing 777F aircraft, that departed on an approximately 19-hour flight to Chengdu around 1 p.m.

WASHINGTON - D.C.'s giant pandas have departed the Smithsonian's National Zoo and now on their journey to China. The zoo announced the departure early Wednesday morning.

The adult bears Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji were originally expected to leave sometime in mid-November. It is unclear why the departure was rescheduled for an earlier date.

FedEx trucks carry DC’s giant pandas from the National Zoo to Dulles

The pandas were loaded into specially designed transport crates early Wednesday. Then forklifts moved each of the bears down Asia Trail where they boarded FedEx trucks for Dulles International Airport.

What will be the next signature animal at the National Zoo?

The beloved Giant Pandas from the National Zoo are now several hours into their journey back to China, but their goodbye was bittersweet. FOX 5's Jacqueline Matter reports from Woodley Park with more on what's become a fixture of culture here in the nation's capital. She spoke to people about what the next signature animal at the zoo should be.

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A specially designed crate carrying Tian Tian leaves the Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

The pandas were already in their specially designed transport crates early Wednesday when they were moved by forklift down Asia Trail where they were placed into FedEx trucks destined for Dulles International Airport.

The pandas departed the Smithsonian's National Zoo around 9 a.m. The Zoo opened to guests at 10 a.m.

The three transport crates were moved onto the FedEx Panda Express, a custom-decaled Boeing 777F aircraft, that departed on an approximately 19-hour flight to Chengdu around 1 p.m.

The zoo's exchange agreement with the Chinese government, originally arranged by President Richard Nixon 50 years ago, expires Dec. 7.

Negotiations to extend the agreement haven’t produced results, amid speculation from China-watchers that Beijing is gradually pulling its pandas from Western nations due to deteriorating diplomatic relations with the U.S. and other countries.

The bears have been a wildly popular attraction and an unofficial symbol of the nation’s capital for decades. Every birthday and anniversary was an occasion for public celebration and the long-shot birth of Xiao Qi Ji in the midst of the pandemic in August 2020 drove millions of viewers to the zoo's panda-cam.

Zoo officials say they remain hopeful they will come to a new agreement with the Chinese government. The San Diego zoo returned its pandas in 2019, and the last bear at the Memphis, Tennessee, zoo went home earlier this year.

The departure of the National Zoo's bears would mean that the only giant pandas left in America are at the Atlanta Zoo — and that loan agreement expires late next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Giant panda Mei Xiang departs DC’s National Zoo for China

A specially designed crate carrying Mei Xiang leaves the Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The giant pandas departed D.C. for China Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Giant panda Tian Tian departs DC’s National Zoo for China

A specially designed crate carrying Tian Tian leaves the Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The giant pandas departed D.C. for China Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji departs DC’s National Zoo for China

A specially designed crate carrying Xiao Qi Ji leaves the Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The giant pandas departed D.C. for China Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Giant pandas depart DC for China

Officials speak with the media at the Giant Panda Habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 as the giant pandas departed D.C. for China.