WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- Two giant pandas began their trip from China to the United States Monday, bound for the National Zoo in D.C. The journey and arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao have been highly anticipated for months by panda lovers across the DMV and beyond. 宝力 Bao Li [BOW-lee] is a male giant panda, whose name means “treasure” and “energetic” in Mandarin Chinese. Put together, “Bao Li” means an active and vital power. 青宝 Qing Bao [ching-BOW] is a female giant panda, whose name means “green” and “treasure” in Mandarin Chinese. “Qing” evokes the lush and mountainous habitat of pandas and “Bao,” which means “precious” and “treasure,” reflects how cherished and adored she is. Two-year-old male giant panda Bao Li in his habitat at Shenshuping Base in Wolong, China, May 16, 2024. Two new giant pandas are returning to Washington’s National Zoo from China this year. The announcement from the Smithsonian Institution on Wednesday comes about half a year after the zoo sent its three pandas back to China. (Roshan Patel, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute via AP)Two-year-old female giant panda Qing Bao in her habitat at Dujiangyan Base in Sichuan, China, May 17, 2024. Two new giant pandas are returning to Washington’s National Zoo from China this year. The announcement from the Smithsonian Institution on Wednesday comes about half a year after the zoo sent its three pandas back to China. (Roshan Patel, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute via AP) The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute said in May that it would welcome pandas back to the District by the end of 2024 to the excitement of many people. Crowds felt the void left by the departure of the zoo's resident pandas in 2023. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian left D.C. to return to China in the fall of that year. The pandas arrived in the U.S. in 2000. They were supposed to stay for research for 10 years, but the agreement that brought them to the National Zoo was extended a number of times. Prior to their departure, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian became parents to their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, in 2023. Excitement brews over 2 new giant pandas coming to DC The China Wildlife and Conservation Association and the U.S. made an agreement in 1972 in an effort to prevent the extinction of pandas. In a statement sent to DC News Now, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA confirmed the pandas were en route to the National Zoo. The embassy said the following: According to China Wildlife Conservation Association, the giant pandas "Baoli" and "Qingbao" are leaving China for the National Zoo in Washington. The United States was among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation. In 1972, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, the first pair of giant pandas came to the United States and made the National Zoo their home. Since we started the cooperation program with the National Zoo in 2000, positive outcomes have been achieved in panda conservation and breeding, disease prevention and treatment, and public awareness. Together, our researchers have successfully bred 17 panda cubs, and solved a number of technical challenges. The current round of cooperation will focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases, and protection of habitats and wild giant panda populations. We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and the US, and help to stabilize the broader bilateral relationship as well. Liu Pengyu, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA Smithsoninan's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute invited everyone to stay updated on the pandas through its website.