Chinese residents, tourists say farewell to giant pandas heading to U.S.

Chinese residents and tourists lined up on the street in Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday to say farewell to a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, as they set off for the United States, hoping the bears will help bring China and the United States closer.

Before their departure from the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding held a farewell ceremony for Ping Ping, a sturdy yet agile male panda born on March 17, 2020, and Fu Shuang, a chubby, vivacious female born on Oct. 18, 2020. Many residents and tourists gathered to wave goodbye to the pandas.

The chartered FedEx cargo plane carrying Ping Ping and Fu Shuang landed in Atlanta in the southeastern United States on Sunday morning.

The two giant pandas are expected to stay at Zoo Atlanta for 10 years, according to an agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

"It's definitely a positive boost for China-U.S. relations and cooperation," said Zhao Ruixiang, a tourist.

Some tourists said pandas symbolize peace and friendship in the hearts of the Chinese people.

"Giant pandas hold a very special place in the hearts of us Chinese people. They're a national treasure. And we've seen panda exchanges with many other countries -- like Germany, Japan and South Korea," said Ma Yuqing, a tourist.

"I feel proud, of course. In my opinion, pandas symbolize peace. For Chinese people, pandas are a kind of cultural connection and emotional symbol," said Liu Chao, another tourist.

Giant panda ties between China and the United States go back a long way. In April 1972, two giant pandas -- Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, arrived in the United States following the visit of then U.S. President Richard Nixon to China in February the same year.

More than 8,000 Americans welcomed Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing in the rain. In their first month on public display, they attracted more than one million visitors. Giant pandas have since helped foster friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

China-U.S. giant panda protection cooperation is one of China's longest-running and most far-reaching international wildlife protection initiatives. In 1994, the CWCA signed an agreement with the San Diego Zoo, officially launching the cooperation program.

Over the past three decades, the two sides have conducted joint research in key areas including panda behavior, nutrition, genetics and disease prevention, achieving significant breakthroughs in breeding techniques. Through the cooperation, pandas in the United States have successfully bred and raised 17 cubs to date -- six in San Diego, four in Washington and seven in Atlanta.

In 2024, China and the United States launched a new round of giant panda protection cooperation, as more pandas successively traveled to the United States.

Chinese residents, tourists say farewell to giant pandas heading to U.S.

Chinese women artists in New York are advancing exchange and deepening mutual understanding across cultures through local galleries, art exhibitions and genuine interpersonal connections built on a passion for art.

One such artist is Christina Wong, who has long integrated her personal artistic practice into cross-cultural interaction. Based in Lower Manhattan, a vibrant hub for global artistic creation and communication, she founded Lumen Studio and regularly visits galleries in the area.

Originally from east China's Shandong and south China's Shenzhen, Wong has settled in New York and immersed herself in the city's diverse art community. She believes artistic passion transcends cultural boundaries, allowing people from all walks of life to connect naturally and build sincere friendships across different backgrounds and perspectives.

"I feel like if you share a passion for art, literally, you can just talk to anybody. And if you go to an art show, there're so many art shows and beautiful galleries in New York, and you can meet people from all walks of life. And you just immediately understand, if you share this passion, and it's so easy for you to make friends," said Wong.

Wong's artistic friendship with Shihui Zhou, founder and director of Latitude Gallery, exemplifies the organic cultural exchanges that take place in the city. Established in 2020 in downtown Manhattan, Latitude Gallery focuses on showcasing emerging talents from the Asian diaspora, amplifying contemporary Asian artistic voices within the Western art scene.

"When we achieve a connection, it's very joyful. And then it's exchange and it's just simply very wonderful to see that people are curious," said Zhou.

She noted that art offers a unique, accessible channel for cross-cultural communication.

"It's great for people to compare and to really experience both different cultures," the gallery founder said.

In New York, a global melting pot of cultures, the two female artists have proven that art serves as a powerful bridge for cultural integration and mutual learning.

"I've made so many friends, honestly, just by being a little bit more present in the art world," said Wong.

Both artists acknowledged that while art cannot resolve international political differences, it can cultivate mutual respect on a much smaller canvas.

Chinese women artists bridge China-US ties through art