Two giant pandas that had been on loan to the United States have returned home to China. Bai Yun, a 27-year-old female giant panda, and her son, six-year-old Xiao Liwu, arrived in their ancestral homeland of Sichuan province in south-west China yesterday after a long-term conservation agreement ended, according to Xinhua News. Their departure comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade and national security. Bai Yun cuddles her son, six-year-old Xiao Liwu, at the San Diego Zoo in California. The pair arrived in their ancestral homeland of Sichuan province in south-west China yesterday after a long-term conservation agreement ended between the US zoo and China The pandas are being transported in a large lorry to the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Sichuan province Bai Yun settles in her new home at the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas after arriving in Sichuan yesterday morning Bai Yun arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1996 as a tiny cub and soon became a star attraction of the park, one of very few in the US to have giant pandas. Erica Kohler, director of operations of the zoo, said Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu attracted about two million visitors to the centre each year. Bai Yun, which means 'white clouds' in Chinese, has given birth to six cubs at the zoo during her 23-year-stay. Xiao Liwu, which means 'little gift', was her last baby and born in 2012. A large group of excited volunteers and workers were seen welcoming the animals with a banner that reads 'Welcome Giant Pandas Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu back home' Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu seem to be settling in well in their home, and caretakers at the Dujiangyan centre said they are in good health following checkups Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu (pictured above) seem to be settling in well in their home, and caretakers said they are in good health following checkups Xiao Liwu, which means 'little gift' in Chinese, enjoys a meal of bamboo in his new home Xiao Liwu's father, Gao Gao, returned to China last year. The departure of the pandas mark the first time in more than 20 years that the zoo will be without pandas. Last month, the San Diego Zoo held a three-week farewell event for the giant pandas, with more than 1,000 Americans lining up to say goodbye to the adorable pair. Video footage released by China News shows the pandas being transported in a large lorry to the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas. A large group of excited volunteers and workers were seen welcoming the animals with a banner that reads 'Welcome Giant Pandas Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu back home.' Last month, the San Diego Zoo held a three-week farewell event for the giant pandas, with more than 1,000 Americans lining up to say goodbye to the adorable pair Bai Yun, which means 'white clouds' in Chinese, has given birth to six cubs at the zoo during her 23-year-stay. Xiao Liwu, which means 'little gift', was her last baby and born in 2012 Erica Kohler, director of operations of the San Diego zoo, said Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu attracted about two million visitors to the centre in California every year Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu seem to be settling in well in their home, and caretakers said they are in good health following checkups. 'They will be under quarantine for a month to help them adapt to the conditions in China,' said Zou Wenyong, a spokesman for the Dujiangyan center. The centre's veterinarian Deng Linhua added that the panda's enclosure will also be thoroughly disinfected every day and caretakers will conduct health checks to make sure they are not carrying any diseases. 'Although we are sad to see these pandas go, we have great hopes for the future,' said San Diego Zoo chief operating officer Shawn Dixon in late March when the zoo announced their departure. Xiao Liwu, right, celebrates his first birthday on July 29, 2013. He was treated to a birthday cake made of ice, bamboo and fruit at the party at the San Diego Zoo Xiao Liwu eats a meal of bamboo at the San Diego Zoo prior to his repatriation to China with his mother Bai Yu, bringing an end to a 23-year-long panda research program at the park Last month, the San Diego Zoo held a three-week farewell event for the giant pandas, with more than 1,000 Americans lining up to say goodbye to the adorable pair 'Working with our colleagues in China, San Diego Zoo Global is ready to make a commitment for the next stage of our panda programme,' he added. China has been shipping giant pandas to other countries as 'diplomatic gifts' allegedly as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is said the country's first female emperor, Empress Wu Zetian of the 7th Century, sent two pandas to Japan. In modern times, the most famous case of 'panda diplomacy' took place in 1972. China has been shipping giant pandas to other countries as 'diplomatic gifts' allegedly as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907) 'Although we are sad to see the pandas go, we have great hopes for the future,' said San Diego Zoo chief operating officer Shawn Dixon in March when the zoo announced their departure China's then Premier Zhou Enlai gave two of the cute animal ambassadors to the US two months after Richard Nixon made his landmark visit to Beijing to end 25 years' of tension between the two nations. After Baiyun and Xiaoliwu's return, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda has welcomed 17 returnee giant pandas. The species was threatened with extinction when the zoo teamed up with China 25 years ago as part of a conservation programme. Today, pandas are listed as a vulnerable species. That means that while their survival is still threatened, conservation efforts have helped reduce their danger of extinction. Bai Yun celebrates her 22 birthday with an ice cake at the San Diego Zoo in California. On the right, the female giant panda settles in her new home at the Sichuan base in China Fewer than 2,000 pandas live in the wild, mostly in Sichuan and Shaanxi. There were 375 giant pandas in captivity at the end of 2013. Above, Xiao Liwu at the San Diego Zoo last month Fewer than 2,000 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi. There were 375 giant pandas in captivity at the end of 2013. Chinese state media yesterday claimed America is 'not sincere' about holding more trade talks as economic tensions mount between the two countries. China announced Monday it would raise tariffs on $60 billion in US exports by next month, responding in kind to President Donald Trump's decision last week to hike duties on hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese merchandise. However, US President Donald Trump left open the door for reconciliation, saying he expected a 'fruitful' meeting next month with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a Group of 20 summit in Japan.All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility