Giant pandas return to China after 23 years in U.S.(1/12)

File photo shows giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang snacking on bamboo at Washington National Zoo, the United States, in 2001. (Photo/Agencies)

Mei Xiang, who is 25 years old, and 26-year-old Tian Tian arrived in Washington, D.C., in 2000.

File photo shows giant panda Mei Xiang snacking on bamboo at Washington National Zoo, the United States. (Photo: China News Service/Wu Qingcai)

File photo shows giant panda Mei Xiang eating bamboo shoot at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States. (Photo: China News Service/Wu Qingcai)

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji plays on top of a tree at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, May 20, 2021. (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji plays on top of a tree at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, May 20, 2021. (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji plays at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, May 20, 2021. (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji (F) celebrates his 1-year birthday with his mother Mei Xiang, at Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, Aug. 21, 2023 (Photo: China News Service/Sha Hanting)

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji(R) and his mother Mei Xiang enjoy an ice cake to mark the 50th anniversary of the giant panda program of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, April 16, 2022. (Photo/Agencies)

Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji enjoys a cake to celebrate his second birthday at Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, Aug. 21, 2022 (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)

Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji enjoys a cake to celebrate his second birthday at Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, Aug. 21, 2022 (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)

Mei Xiang enjoys a birthday cake presented to her on his 25th birthday at Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, July 22, 2023. (Photo/ICphoto)

Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji enjoys a cake to celebrate his third birthday at Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, Aug. 21, 2022 (Photo: China News Service/Chen Mengtong)