Saturday was a bittersweet day at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., as well-wishers gathered to say goodbye to the three giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their 3-year-old cub Xiao Qi Ji, who are heading back to China soon.

The week-long event “Panda Palooza” welcomed fans from around the country to come see the pandas one last time.  

Hear from some visitors about what these giant pandas mean to them.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.