Bao Bao, whose name means “precious” or “treasure,” leaves from Dulles on Feb. 21, 2017.
A lot of people arrive early at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, located in Washington D.C., on Saturday morning, Feb. 18, 2017, waiting outside the yard to say goodbye to Bao Bao, the second surviving cub born at this national zoo in 45 years. (Christina Su/American University)
Young girls, who wear same color clothes, are taking photos in front of the entrance of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Christina Su/American University)
Bao Bao, born at 5:32 p.m. Aug. 23, 2013, is enjoying the heart-shaped ice cake made by the Zoo on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. The Zoo holds a series of events to say goodbye to Bao Bao during the long weekend. (Christina Su/American University)
A girl, who wears a panda hat, is writing her farewell wish to Bao Bao on the #ByeByeBaoBao board inside the Giant Panda Habitat on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Christina Su/American University)
The girl writes “We’ll miss you, Bao Bao!! Good luck!” on the board and draws a heart at the end of the sentence. (Christina Su/American University)
Bao Bao is eating bamboo, sitting on her favorite bed on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. According to the Zoo, Bao Bao has 55 pounds of bamboo, 2 pounds of apples, 2 bags of leaf eater biscuits, 2 pounds of sweet potatoes, 10 gallons of water and some sugarcane with her during the flight. (Christina Su/American University)
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo posts an announcement at the entrance of the Zoo on Feb. 18, 2017, noticing that the National Zoo will open at 12 p.m. on Feb 21, 2017. Bao Bao, whose name means “precious” or “treasure,” leaves from Dulles on that day. (Christina Su/American University)
The Connecticut Avenue NW in front of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is blocked by lots of cars on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Most of them are heading to the Zoo. (Christina Su/American University)
Dennis Kelly, Director of the Smithsonian National Zoo said, “Today is bittersweet. Bao Bao going back is important, because she will have a boyfriend. And our team is working so hard for so many years to make sure that giant panda stands on the earth. It’s my dream that Bao Bao’s offspring will be once introduced back into the wild in China.”
Bao Bao has already landed at its new home in China on Wednesday, according to the official Chinese news agency.
Here is a short video posted by the National Zoo. Let’s look back!
Zhongyi Su 