Giant Pandas Arrive at National Zoo, December 6, 2000, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, Giant pandas Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male) in their new home in the National Zoological Park's Panda House on the day of their arrival. Both pandas were born at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province, China., On July 9, 2005 Mei Xiang gave birth to her and Tian Tian's first cub, Tai Shan. Tai Shan returned to China on February 4, 2010, and lives at the Bifengxia Panda Base, in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, China..