Two people accompany the convoy carrying giant pandas An An, and Ke Ke, at Hong Kong International Airport after the pair reached the city by special flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on September 26, 2024. Photo: VCG

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has embraced a recent panda craze as the third pair of giant pandas, gifted by the central government, arrived in the city on Thursday with enthusiastic crowds and panda-themed decorations welcoming the "national treasures."

The pair, An An, a male, and Ke Ke, a female, both born in June 2019, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport by special flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at around 11 am, and then was transferred to a special bus to arrive at their new home in Ocean Park Hong Kong at around 1 pm, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The SAR government organized a welcome ceremony at the airport for the giant pandas upon their much-awaited arrival in the city at 11 am. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung led the welcome event.

"We are more than happy to welcome the pair of the energetic giant pandas at this joyful time," said Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, at a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport.

Airport staff rolled out the red carpet to welcome An An and Ke Ke, who are both five years old, and they received warm wishes and blessings from the public.

Upon arrival, the two will be quarantined for 30 days. Afterward, they will spend time acclimating to their new environment before meeting the public in December, Xinhua revealed.

A keeper from Ocean Park Hong Kong has been in Sichuan since July for the pandas to get used to his voice, scent and presence. The vet with the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda who accompanied the two pandas on their trip is expected to work in Hong Kong for two to three months to help the pandas fully adapt to the new environment. 

They are to join four others currently living in Hong Kong, bringing the total number to six, making it the city with the largest number of giant pandas outside the Chinese mainland, chinanews.com reported.

On Thursday afternoon, escorted by local police, the panda convoy smoothly entered the Ocean Park Hong Kong. Accompanied by the park's band, dozens of eager panda enthusiasts waved panda-shaped balloons and signs, cheering in joyful welcome, the Global Times learned.

"The adorable image of the giant panda is simply irresistible," said Jane, a member of the crowd. 

"The event was quite grand and impressive, clearly showing that the Hong Kong SAR government places great importance on this new pair of giant pandas. We were also very excited," Jane told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"When I talked to my friends in the mainland about this, they mentioned that the previous pandas that came to Hong Kong live long lives, so they feel reassured about An An and Ke Ke's arrival," Jane said.

The central government gifted Hong Kong with its first pair of giant pandas in 1999. However, both pandas passed away in 2016 and 2022 at the ages of 38 and 35, respectively. Jia Jia, which died at 38 in 2016, was the world's longest-living captive giant panda. The central government gifted a second pair in 2007 and they had recently given birth to twin panda cubs, Xinhua reported.

Now with six pandas, Paulo Pong Kin-Yee, chairman of Ocean Park said on Thursday that the nursing team has made thorough arrangements to care for the lovable mammals. The two exhibition halls feature four designated areas for the pandas, ensuring ample space for their needs. Additionally, sufficient staff is available to ensure the well-being of the pandas, Pong stated, according to Hong Kong's local media.

The arrival of the new pair came ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which is also a highlight of the hundreds of celebrations in Hong Kong.