Beloved giant pandas depart U.S. national zoo for China

Giant Pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, along with their cub Xiao Qi Ji, are set to return to China aboard a flight.

On Wednesday, the three pandas met with the media at the U.S. national zoo, known officially as the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, before embarking on their journey back to China.

The aircraft is scheduled to depart from Washington, capital of the United States, at 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday and will make a stopover in Alaska for refueling before reaching Sichuan province in China, with the entire flight lasting approximately 19 hours. Two keepers and a veterinarian will accompany the three pandas, all of which are in good health, according the zoo.