View Comments
Giant pandas Tian Tian, top, and Mei Xiang play at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in the Chinese city of Wolong, Sichuan Province, Tuesday. The pandas will head to the U.S. National Zoo in Washington Wednesday, taking the place of a pair given by Beijing to the United States nearly 30 years ago. Private donors contributed $18 million to help bring the pandas to Washington on a 10-year loan from China. The funds are to be spent on panda conservation projects in China.