TOKYO: People flocked to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo to see Xiang Xiang on Sunday, the final day for public viewing for the beloved 5-year-old female giant panda before her return to China set for Tuesday.

A lottery for viewing Xiang Xiang on Sunday was held in advance. With a total of 2,000 people allowed to view Xiang Xiang on the day, the overall odds surpassed 20 times, and the odds for the final group of 100 viewers reached 70 times.

Viewers cheered and shouted every time Xing Xiang made a move, while some shed tears. The shutters for the exhibition room of Xiang Xiang were lowered around 4:50 p.m. (7:50 a.m. GMT), after the final group saw her.

“I feel sad, but I told her ‘Thank you,'” said Natsuki Mizuguchi, a 37-year-old graphic designer from Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward, who was in the final group of viewers. “Xiang Xiang is my friend. She gave me courage and cheered me up.”

Harumi Ideguchi, 78, from the city of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, came to the zoo although she lost the lottery. “I came here as I wanted to be near Xiang Xiang. She made me happy and smile over the five years.”

Naoya Ohashi, the 48-year-old head of the zoo’s education division, said, “Many people came to see Xiang Xiang, so I could feel how much they love her.”

Xiang Xiang was born to her mother, Shin Shin, and her father, Ri Ri, in June 2017, becoming the first giant panda born at the zoo in the Ueno district in Taito Ward of the Japanese capital in five years. Xiang Xiang was given her name in September that year.

As a giant panda born at Ueno Zoo in 2012 died six days after birth, Xiang Xiang is also the first panda to grow up after being born at the zoo since You You, born in 1988.

Xiang Xiang became very popular soon after she went on public display in December 2017, with visitors lining up to see her day in, day out. In June 2021, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, the twin brother and sister of Xiang Xiang, were born.

China has the ownership of Xiang Xiang as her parents are on loan from the country.

The return of Xiang Xiang to China had been originally set for December 2020. But the schedule was postponed five times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

JIJI Press