CHENGDU, Sichuan, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A pair of giant pandas offered by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan arrived in Chengdu, Sichuan's provincial capital, and would fly to the island on Tuesday afternoon.

    The pandas in metal crates arrived at the Shuangliu Airport in Chengdu at around 10:55 a.m. after almost three-hour journey from Ya'an, where they lived.

    They will board a Taiwan-bound plane at around 2 p.m. with a week's food, animal experts and keepers from the mainland and Taiwan.

    The four-year-old pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, will be housed in a four-story building at the Taipei city zoo.

Mainland panda pair leave for Taiwan 

Staff members carry a caged giant panda to an enclosed truck at a breeding base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 23, 2008. The 4-year-old giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, offered by the Chinese mainland are going to leave here Tuesday for Taiwan. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    YA'AN, Sichuan, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A pair of giant pandas offered by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan left here Tuesday for the island.

    The pandas left Ya'an, Sichuan, at around 8:20 a.m. in an enclosed truck. They would first be transported to Sichuan's provincial capital of Chengdu, about 120 km from Ya'an, and then be flown to Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon. Full story

Taipei zoo gears up to welcome mainland panda pair

A caretaker of the Taipei zoo trains Yuan Yuan, one of the two pandas donated and will be sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, at a panda breeding base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province Dec. 21, 2008. The Taiwanese caretakers in two groups have basically learned the breeding skills of pandas since Oct. 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TAIPEI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Taipei zoo opened its new panda house to the public and media on Thursday, showcasing its full efforts to welcome the giant panda pair presented by the mainland.

    The new panda house covers an area of 5,500 square meters with an investment of 300 million New Taiwan dollars (9.1 million U.S. dollars), said Jason Yeh, the zoo director. Full story

Taiwanese breeder You Xueyin feeds giant pandas Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, a couple of pandas the mainland has promised to send to Taiwan, at a panda breeding base in Ya'an City in southeast China's Sichuan Province on Dec. 22, 2008, one day ahead of their scheduled departure. The panda pair will take a chater flight to go to Taiwan on Tuesday if the weather condition is ok. (Xinhua/Chen Xie) Photo Gallery>>>

Mainland, Taiwan hold economic, cultural forum

The 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and southeast China's Taiwan begins in Shanghai, east China, Dec. 20, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SHANGHAI, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan began here Saturday morning.

    Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and Honorary Chairman Lien Chan attended. Full story

Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct links after 59 years

Passengers from southeast China's Taiwan gesture before boarding the plane at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. A Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services on Monday amid warming ties, ending a 59-year ban on such links.

    Formerly, air and sea movements -- including mail -- had to go by way of a third place.

    The direct daily transport started as a mainland-based Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taipei at 7:20 a.m.(2320 GMT Sunday), which was followed by a Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways jetliner from Taipei to Shanghai. Full story

Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct postal service

    TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Wu Min-yu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Chunghwa Post Co. Ltd., sent out a letter to Liu Andong, president of the Chinese mainland's China Post Corporation, on 9:17 a.m. (1:17 GMT), marking the start of direct postal service between the two sides.   Full story

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou witnesses launch of direct shipping service to Chinese mainland 

    TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou on Monday said direct transport and postal services across the Taiwan Straits symbolized reconciliation between the island and the Chinese mainland.

    At a ceremony in south Taiwan's Kaosiung port, Ma expressed the hope that the two sides could work together for common peace and prosperity after the direct transport and postal services started.  Full story