A pair of giant pandas, 27-year-old female Bai Yun and its youngest son Xiao Liwu, returned to China Thursday and will settle down at a research base in Sichuan, cradle of giant pandas. A photo taken on May 16 shows giant panda Bai Yun.

The 6-year-old Xiao Liwu, meaning “little gift” in Chinese, was born at the San Diego Zoo, one of three US zoos leasing the black-and-white bears from China for cooperation on conservation and breeding research.

Last month, the San Diego Zoo held a three-week farewell event for the two giant pandas.

On Thursday morning, the pandas arrived at the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas. Experts examined the pandas and said the bears' condition was good.

The mother and son need a one-month quarantine to help them adapt to conditions in China’s panda bases, experts said. (Photos: VCG; compiled by Chen Lidan)