The chartered flight carrying Fu Bao, the first naturally born panda in South Korea, landed safely on Wednesday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. After inspection by customs at the airport, Fu Bao was set to be transported to the Shenshuping giant panda base in Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan for quarantine.

The base is fully prepared to welcome this beloved panda with a range of completed resources and facilities, according to Li Guo, deputy director of the Shenshuping giant panda base under the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda. "We will determine when to make Fu Bao meet the public based on her adaptation. Judging from experiences, the adaptation period can range from one month to eight months, or even longer," said Li.

Fu Bao, dubbed the "top celebrity in South Korea" or "Princess Fu," was born on July 20, 2020, to Le Bao and Ai Bao, the pandas leased by China to South Korea in 2016. She has gained massive popularity across the country and beyond over the years. 

Under the terms of the giant panda research cooperation program, all giant pandas born overseas should be returned to China before turning 4 years old. Giant pandas usually become sexually mature at around 4 years old.