Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, departed from Chengdu, China, for Zoo Atlanta as part of an agreement between the United States and China. The pandas were flown on a FedEx-operated Boeing 777, which was stocked with steamed corn buns, carrots, and bamboo for their journey. This relocation was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington, where he referred to the panda loan program as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
The pandas are on a 10-year loan to Zoo Atlanta, having been born in 2020 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. A farewell ceremony took place prior to their departure from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at approximately 3:00 a.m. local time on Sunday (1900 GMT on Saturday). They are accompanied by experienced US zoo keepers who traveled to China in advance.
Zoo Atlanta has made renovations to its panda facilities and ensured a stable supply of locally grown bamboo in preparation for the pandas' arrival. The zoo has previously hosted pandas from 1999 to 2024.