After several Chinese pandas were taken from Washington, D.C., earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that more of the furry creatures, who he called "envoys of friendship," will come to the U.

How to see Edinburgh Zoo's giant pandas before they return to China - Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived in Scotland in 2011 but are due to return to their native land

Three giant pandas left their enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, and departed by plane back to China on Wednesday, marking<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More

It is being speculated that Beijing is gradually pulling its pandas out of American and European zoos due to a rise in tensions with the government in the West over a number of issues.

Visitors are enjoying their final chance to say farewell to the UK’s only giant pandas before they return to China after 12 years in Scotland. From around 3.30pm on Thursday, Yang Guang and Tian Tian will no longer be on public view at Edinburgh Zoo as they prepare for their journey next week.

Crowds gather as Britain waves goodbye to its last giant pandas – so what next for Tian Tian and Yang Guang? Leo Webb, 7, and his mum travelled from Ashtead in Surrey to Edinburgh to see pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian before they return to China Credit: Alan Peebles If Tian Tian and Yang Guang are nervous about their upcoming big trip,