Following an eight-day farewell celebration, giant panda Bei Bei is scheduled to depart the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday and fly to China. Bei Bei will be accompanied by one panda keeper and one veterinarian on a direct flight to southwest China's Chengdu City.

As part of the zoo's cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all cubs born there must relocate to China after their fourth birthday. Bei Bei turned 4 on August 22.