Panda pair arrives in Harbin

Harbin, a city in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province, is abuzz with excitement as it prepares to welcome its newest residents: two giant pandas named Zhi Shi and Zhi Ma.

The two giant pandas, whose names translate to "cheese" and "sesame" in English, respectively, arrived from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province on Monday.

The two are both males, 8 years old and in good health. They lived in the Panda Valley of Dujiangyan, Sichuan, before being sent to Harbin.

The giant pandas are under quarantine for inspection and adapting to their new home — Harbin's Sun Island giant panda pavilion, a recently completed venue that will focus on the conservation, research and education of giant pandas, according to a media statement issued by the pavilion on Monday. Efforts to bring the pandas to Harbin began in October last year, the statement said.

It said that staff members had very sound plans put in place for stress prevention and emergency management during the giant pandas' transshipment, and also prepared abundant medical supplies to ensure the safe journey of the two pandas.

The pavilion will become a hub of knowledge for people interested in learning about giant pandas and offer educational tours.

Liu Dongying, a professor from Heilongjiang University in Harbin, is deeply delighted by the pandas' arrival.

"I'm very happy to have giant pandas settling in Harbin! Harbin city is already famous for Western-style architecture and beautiful snow views, so the coming of lovely giant pandas is like adding icing on the cake and bringing the city more vibrancy and vitality."

Zhang Xianmei, a resident of Daqing, Heilongjiang, said she still remembers the scene of the giant pandas rolling in the snow that she and her daughter saw in Harbin several years ago.

"I still remember that the pandas were rolling in the snow like kids playing with each other. They seemed happier in the snow than what I had seen in southern provinces, where the climates are milder," she said, adding that she expects another visit to the city to see the new giant pandas this winter.

The pavilion has not announced an opening date, which will depend on the condition of Zhi Shi and Zhi Ma, local authorities said.