Two giant pandas land in Scotland from China

London: Two giant pandas from China landed yesterday in Scotland, where they will become the first pandas to live in Britain in nearly two decades.

The eight-year-old pair, named Tian Tian and Yang Guang — or Sweetie and Sunshine — were welcomed by bagpipe players as they touched down at Edinburgh Airport on a specially chartered Boeing 777 flight called the "Panda Express".

The pandas, from the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, are to stay for ten years at Edinburgh Zoo, where officials hope they will give birth. The female, Tian Tian, has had twin cubs in the past, but not with Yang Guang. The male panda has previously fathered cubs as well.