HAIKOU, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two male giant pandas "Gong Gong" and "Shun Shun" arrived in China's southernmost province of Hainan on Saturday to become the first pandas to settle on the tropical island.
The two panda brothers, both 5 years old, have moved into their home of over 1,000 square meters in the Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden after alighting the flight from their hometown Sichuan Province.
Their arrival will end the province's history of no permanent panda dwellers. The tropical island only had a guest panda, Ding Ding, who visited and stayed for a month in 2004.
"Many of our visitors hope to see giant pandas, and we also had the dream of having a panda. Today is the day our dreams have finally come true," said Shang Xiao, board chairman of the park.
The pandas' new home in Haikou, capital of Hainan, is divided into outdoor and indoor areas and is furnished with rockeries, ponds and even wooden rocking chairs.
Chen Zhenjiang, marketing director of the park, said the panda pavilion was designed to suit panda's habits and make them feel closer to nature.
"The two pandas will live in Hainan for two years to start, and will continue to live here if things go as planned," said Chen.
