Three giant pandas born and raised at a zoo in western Japan arrived at Chengdu Airport in China on June 5 to participate in a breeding program at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Hai Bang and Yang Bang, male twins who are 6 years old, and their 4-year-old younger sister, You Bang, made the intercontinental trip after living in Adventure World in Shirahama, in Wakayama Prefecture, since birth.

All three are reaching the age of sexual maturity, and will take part in a breeding program in Chengdu in accordance with China’s giant panda protection policies and a cooperative project between the research base and Adventure World.

The joint project between Japan and China has successfully bred 15 giant panda cubs, among which eight are now in China.

Hai Bang, Yang Bang, and You Bang are the ninth, tenth and 11th giant pandas from Japan to come to China.