Pandas arrive at National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – A new set of pandas have officially arrived at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, the 3-year-old giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, made the journey to the U.S. from a research facility in China.

They touched down at Dulles International Airport just before 10 a.m. ET on board FedEx’s “Panda Express” plane and were transported to the National Zoo on board specially marked FedEx trucks.

Their arrival marks the start of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. It’s been eleven months since the National Zoo’s beloved pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, left Washington, D.C. when the previous deal expired last year.

The National Zoo’s website says it will be closed on Tuesday. The male and female pair will likely get an extended quarantine and acclimation period before being introduced to the public.

The zoo has recently launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation of the pandas’ arrival.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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