Photos: Visitors greet pandas at National Zoo

Image 0 of 20

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao inspects her exhibit during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Bao Li plays with toys during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant pandas Bao Li eats an apple during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return People look as Giant panda Bao Li inspects his exhibit during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Children have a selfie taken with Giant panda Bao Li (C, rear) during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao inspects her enclosure during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return People watch as Giant panda Bao Li inspects his enclosure during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Children look as Giant panda Qing Bao inspects her exhibit during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo during the public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Giant pandas Bao Li eats an apple during the panda public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2025. The pandas arrived at the zoo on October 15, 2024, in the latest chapter in China's campaign of international "panda diplomacy." (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandas return Male giant panda Bao Li is seen at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 9, 2025. The Smithsonian's National Zoo hosted a media preview event for Chinese media on Friday, where giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao made their debut before the press. (Photo by Deng Xianlai/Xinhua via Getty Images) (Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Ima)

Pandas return Female giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 9, 2025. The Smithsonian's National Zoo hosted a media preview event for Chinese media on Jan. 9, where giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao made their debut before the press. (Photo by Deng Xianlai/Xinhua via Getty Images) (Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Ima)

Pandas return WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: With the National Cathedral looming in the background, giant panda bear Qing Bao settles herself high in a tree at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on January 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. Until the pandas Qing Bow and her male companion, Bao Li, arrived from China on October 15, pandas had been absent from the National Zoo for almost a year. The new animals have replaced the zoo's last giant pandas, Mei Xiang, 26, a female, Tian Tian, 27, a male, and their male offspring, Xiao Qi Ji, 4. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im)

Pandas return WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Giant panda bear Bao Li munches on bamboo at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on January 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. Until the pandas Qing Bow and her male companion, Bao Li, arrived from China on October 15, pandas had been absent from the National Zoo for almost a year. The new animals have replaced the zoo's last giant pandas, Mei Xiang, 26, a female, Tian Tian, 27, a male, and their male offspring, Xiao Qi Ji, 4. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im)

January 24, 2025 at 10:23 am EST

Latest Photo Galleries

PHOTOS: Vigil for Yadira Hernandez Castro

PHOTOS: Vigil for Yadira Hernandez Castro

February 13, 2026 at 10:17 pm EST

PHOTOS: Construction on the River District, February 2026

PHOTOS: Construction on the River District, February 2026

February 12, 2026 at 8:13 pm EST

PHOTOS: School bus crashes into woods in Gaston County

PHOTOS: School bus crashes into woods in Gaston County

February 12, 2026 at 4:17 pm EST

PHOTOS: Vigil for Ina Lang

PHOTOS: Vigil for Ina Lang

February 11, 2026 at 10:07 pm EST

PHOTOS: Charlotte FC unveils new kit after years of planning

PHOTOS: Charlotte FC unveils new kit after years of planning

February 10, 2026 at 6:25 pm EST

Photos: The Carolina Lightnin' early years

Photos: The Carolina Lightnin' early years

February 06, 2026 at 1:08 pm EST

I-77 express lanes designs

I-77 express lanes designs

February 05, 2026 at 4:21 pm EST

PHOTOS: Major cash seizure on I-85 linked to illegal drug activity

PHOTOS: Major cash seizure on I-85 linked to illegal drug activity

February 04, 2026 at 4:45 pm EST

Water main break floods west Charlotte roadway

Water main break floods west Charlotte roadway

February 04, 2026 at 12:00 am EST

Photos: Snow covers the Carolinas

Photos: Snow covers the Carolinas

January 31, 2026 at 9:19 am EST

Apps Download Button

I choose you, Pikachu: Logan Paul’s ‘holy grail’ Pokémon card sells for $16.5M

Luxury steamer lost on Lake Michigan found more than 150 years after sinking

Olympic ‘punishment’: Speed skater does his fantasy football penance during games

DoorDash driver arrested; police complete delivery

Curling Rambo: Who is Olympic viral sensation Aidan Oldenburg?

The Pogues’ drummer Andrew Ranken dies

Patriots’ Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to strangulation or suffocation, assault & battery charges

Roku romance: Streamer ranks romantic movies