The Taipei zoo said visitors to a pair of giant pandas, as gifts from the Chinese mainland amid warming ties, hit its designed quota of 22,000 on Wednesday.
The last visitor was allowed in the four-floor panda house at 1 p.m. to watch the cute giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, eating, playing and cuddling each other.
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On January 28, 2009, 22,000 visitors go to the Taipei Zoo to watch Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan.
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The panda house opened to Taiwan public on Jan. 26, the first day of the Chinese lunar new year vacation.
"Today has been the first clear day of the vacation. That's why many people came here to meet Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan," said Jason Yeh, the zoo director.
The pandas, offered by the mainland as gifts, have adapted quite well to their new home since their arrival on Dec. 23 last year, he said. "They eat about 30 kg of local bamboos a day and sleep around ten hours a day."
The zoo limits panda visitors to 22,000 each day so that they will not be disturbed too much by visitors.
Despite rainy weather, many still lined up to see the pandas on Monday and Tuesday. The number of visitors on Tuesday totaled 18,899.
The city's metro company launched two special trains, painted with cartoon images of the pandas, while the city administration urged the citizens to use public transport to the zoo in order to avoid traffic congestion.
The mainland announced in May 2005 that it would give two giant pandas to Taiwan as a gesture of goodwill. Their departure was delayed for more than three years. Improved cross-Strait ties made their journey to Taiwan possible.