Two giant pandas are on their way from China to Washington’s National Zoo, traveling on a specially charted plane and kicking off a much-awaited return of the beloved bears to the American capital.

Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao leave China’s Sichuan Province for new home in Washington after two sides sign 10-year conservation deal.

A motorcade through the capital revived “panda diplomacy” between Washington and Beijing for the first time in nearly a year.