People in China's Sichuan Province are saying goodbye to a pair of pandas that are headed for Taiwan on Tuesday.

"I am reluctant to let them leave here," said Wang Xiaofang, owner of a shop only several hundred meters away from the Bifeng Gorge Giant Panda Base.

It has been home to Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan since they were transferred on June 18 from the Wolong Nature Reserve, also in Sichuan, after the May 12 earthquake.

"Their departure for Taiwan represents the mainland people's wishes to promote cross-Strait relations," said Wang. "I hope they will bring goodwill to Taiwan."

The four-year-old animals will be housed at the Taipei Mucha Zoo. The mainland announced in May 2005 it would donate two giant pandas to Taiwan to demonstrate its goodwill. However, their departure has been delayed for more than three years.

"I have been paying great attention to the news about Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan every day," said Yu Yong, a resident of Sichuan's capital, Chengdu.

Yu said he would say goodbye to pandas by watching a live broadcast on TV when they depart.

Some local netizens also expressed their wishes for the pair.

"I hope you have a good life there. Perhaps I will come to Taiwan to see you in the near future," read a message left by netizen Baguobuyi.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)