This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows panda-shaped cupcakes at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

　　Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Giant panda parents Xing Hui and Hao Hao will remain in Pairi Daiza until 2029.

　　BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, three giant pandas born at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium, embarked on their journey back to China on Tuesday, marking an important milestone in the panda conservation program between the two countries.

　　Tian Bao, born in 2016, along with his younger siblings, twins Bao Di and Bao Mei, born in 2019, will join the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province. There, they will participate in conservation and breeding projects.

　　People bid farewell to pandas at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

　　Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Calm but inquisitive, the trio sat in specially designed enclosures prepared for their trip.

　　At a farewell ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao said: “Giant pandas are not only adorable and rare animals that bring joy to people, but also serve as a bridge that connects people's emotions and promotes cultural exchange. They symbolize the shared commitment of China and Belgium to protecting nature and living in harmony with it.“