Today on November 19th, 2019, Bei Bei, the male giant panda born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., is on his way home to China from the U.S. 

Beibei will arrive at Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in SW China, by flying with his private plane Boeing 777F panda express. The plane will be equipped with keepers and Bei Bei's favorite food: 66-pound bamboo, snacks and water. According to zoo keepers, they chose to send Bei Bei back to China in November because the hot summer has passed, and Bei Bei will be more comfortable to take a long-distance flight at this time.

Bei Bei was born in 2015 and has been living at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in the U.S. since then. According to zoo's cooperative breeding agreement, Bei Bei will return back to China when he turns to 4 years old in 2019. Before Bei Bei left, the National Zoo held farewell parties for him lasting almost one week. Lots of people came to say goodbye and hope Bei Bei enjoys his flight back to China. 

After Bei Bei's departure, his father Tian Tian and his mother Mei Xiang are the only giant pandas left in the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Bei Bei's brother Tai Shan and sister Bao Bao have already returned to China in 2010 and 2017 respectively. Tonight, Bei Bei will also arrive China and start his new life in one of the bases run by the China Conservation and Research Center. 

As one of the world's most popular animals, giant pandas have been loved by many in China and abroad.