More than three years after Fan Xing was born at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, the Netherlands, the giant panda cub received a festive farewell ceremony on Wednesday and left for China.

"It's a special day today, although I have mixed feelings," Ouwehands Zoo CEO Robin de Lange told Xinhua. "On one hand, we are happy that Fan Xing is going to China and be part of the breeding program. On the other hand, we love Fan Xing. And we say farewell and that's not easy, of course."

History was made on May 1, 2020, with the birth of the first giant panda cub in the Netherlands. Today the cub was waved goodbye by a full square in the park, with guests from the Chinese embassy and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as many visitors, especially children.

"After we got the pandas in 2017, we were hoping to get a young one," Marcel Boekhoorn, Ouwehands Zoo owner, said, referring to the arrival of Fan Xing's parents -- male Xing Ya and female Wu Wen -- at Ouwehands Zoo on April 12, 2017.

"And finally, in 2020, we got Fan Xing and we were very happy, very happy. The community was happy, Holland was happy, and everybody was happy. Because it was the first time with the natural breeds, with a new panda, very small."

Marcel Boekhoorn, Ouwehands Zoo owner says: "Let's be honest. She was so a lovely, beautiful one. And now we are all sad that she leaves today. But we hope she will have a great life in China. We will miss her for sure."

Hans van der Pas, Mayor of Rhenen: "It was a warm welcome when Fan Xing was born three years ago. And we followed everything. We followed everything about Fan Xing."

"And now we are sad that she's leaving because Fan Xing is Rhenen and Rhenen is Fan Xing. We are sad, but we are also glad that she goes back to China and goes back to the land of her parents, and her ancestors," said Hans van der Pas, mayor of Rhenen.

After a short formal program with speeches from dignitaries, a toast was made outside on the square to a good future for Fan Xing. There was entertainment and a timeline video of the giant pandas in Ouwehands Zoo was shown, with the birth and growing up of Fan Xing as highlights. The video ended with the transport bus actually entering the square and being waved goodbye.

Younes, Pupil with Dalton School in Rhenen: "I live around here, so I came here many times to see her. The first time I saw her was like all my size, but now she is two times my size. I hope she has a good life in China."

De Lange said a lot of preparations have been made for the transport of the giant panda.

Robin de Lange, Ouwehands Zoo CEO
"For the transport, there were a lot of preparations. Security is important. Of course, the transport must be good. We did it together with China Air Cargo. It's a very professional company and they will fly Fan Xing to Chengdu. But I think everything is well-prepared and everything will be okay."

Rhenen's mayor recalled the days of helping Fan Xing in her first years at Ouwehands Zoo. "It was a combination between the people of the Ouwehands Zoo and also the Chinese people who have a lot of knowledge about growing up pandas."

"It was a combination," the mayor said. "A cooperation between the Dutch and the Chinese people. We are very glad that she grew up here in a very good way."

STORY: Giant panda born in Dutch zoo leaves for China
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:42
LOCATION: Amsterdam
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the seeing-off ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MARCEL BOEKHOORN, Ouwehands Zoo owner
3. various of the seeing-off ceremony
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HANS VAN DER PAS, Mayor of Rhenen
5. various of the seeing-off ceremony
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): YOUNES, Pupil with Dalton School in Rhenen
7. various of the seeing-off ceremony
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ROBIN DE LANGE, Ouwehands Zoo CEO


STORYLINE:

More than three years after Fan Xing was born at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, the Netherlands, the giant panda cub received a festive farewell ceremony on Wednesday and left for China.
   
"It's a special day today, although I have mixed feelings," Ouwehands Zoo CEO Robin de Lange told Xinhua. "On one hand, we are happy that Fan Xing is going to China and be part of the breeding program. On the other hand, we love Fan Xing. And we say farewell and that's not easy, of course."

History was made on May 1, 2020, with the birth of this first giant panda cub in the Netherlands. Today the cub was waved goodbye by a full square in the park, with guests from the Chinese embassy and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as many visitors, especially children.

"After we got the pandas in 2017, we were hoping to get a young one," Marcel Boekhoorn, Ouwehands Zoo owner, said, referring to the arrival of Fan Xing's parents -- male Xing Ya and female Wu Wen -- at Ouwehands Zoo on April 12, 2017.
   
"And finally, in 2020, we got Fan Xing and we were very happy, very happy. The community was happy, Holland was happy, everybody was happy. Because it was the first time with the natural breeds, with a new panda, very small."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MARCEL BOEKHOORN, Ouwehands Zoo owner
"Let's be honest. She was so lovely, beautiful one.
And now we are all sad that she leaves today. But we hope she will have a great life in China. We will miss her for sure."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HANS VAN DER PAS, Mayor of Rhenen
"It was a warm welcome when Fan Xing was born three years ago. And we followed everything. We followed everything about Fan Xing."

"And now we are sad that she's leaving, because Fan Xing is Rhenen and Rhenen is Fan Xing. We are sad, but we are also glad that she goes back to China and goes back to the land of her parents, and her ancestors," said Hans van der Pas, mayor of Rhenen.

After a short formal program with speeches from dignitaries, a toast was made outside on the square to a good future for Fan Xing. There was entertainment and a timeline video of the giant pandas in Ouwehands Zoo was shown, with the birth and growing up of Fan Xing as highlights. The video ended with the transport bus actually entering the square and being waved goodbye.
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): YOUNES, Pupil with Dalton School in Rhenen
"I live around here, so I came here many times to see her. The first time I saw her was like all my size, but now she is two times my size. I hope she has a good life in China."

De Lange said a lot of preparations have been made for the transport of the giant panda.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ROBIN DE LANGE, Ouwehands Zoo CEO
"For the transport, there were a lot of preparations. Security is important. Of course the transport must be good. We did it together with China Air Cargo. It's a very professional company and they will fly Fan Xing to Chengdu. But I think everything is well-prepared and everything will be okay."
   
Rhenen's mayor recalled the days of helping Fan Xing in her first years at Ouwehands Zoo. "It was a combination between the people of the Ouwehands Zoo and also the Chinese people who have a lot of knowledge about growing up pandas."
   
"It was a combination," the mayor said. "A cooperation between the Dutch and the Chinese people. We are very glad that she grew up here in a very good way."
   
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Amsterdam.
(XHTV)