The bittersweet celebration is upon us. Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s beloved giant panda, will leave for China on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, hundreds careened their necks, phones at the ready, to catch one last glimpse of Bei Bei as he enjoyed a multi-layered ice cake complete with bamboo, an appropriate send off for a D.C. icon.

Lisa Barham, rocking a panda scarf and hat, came all the way from Ohio to bid Bei Bei farewell and to give him some advice: “for him to be a gentleman to all the ladies over there because truly the best years are yet to come,” Barham chuckled. “It’s bittersweet he’s leaving here, but the way I see it’s like sending a kid off to college,” she added.

Since his birth in August 2015, Bei Bei has grown up in the public eye—from visitors making the pilgrimage to the National Zoo to thousands of eyes watching intently from the zoo’s panda cam (panda cam 1 is currently trained on Bei Bei 24/7). In January 2016, thousands of visitors flocked to the zoo to see his first public appearance. Over the years, viewers have seen him eat, nap, climb and fall from trees—his tumble through the snow has racked up nearly 300,000 views on YouTube.

“It’s a conservation success,” said Pamela Baker-Masson, the National Zoo’s associate director of communication and exhibits.

To prepare Bei Bei for the long journey to China zookeepers have been training him to go in and out of a wooden crate.

“He’s been a bear that is very easy to train,” Baker-Masson said. “There’s always incentive, and for bears—well for all animals, including humans—food works.”

The idea is to create a comfortable safe space for Bei Bei in the crate with his favorite snacks to make him feel like he’s in a den, Baker-Masson said.

“I’m wishing him the best on his adventure,” D.C. resident Stephanie Hall said, donning a fuzzy panda hat. “And having a wonderful sire of little cubs to save the species.”

When he’s old enough, Bei Bei will be a part of the breeding agreement between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association—one that his older sister, Bao Bao, and big brother, Tai Shan, became part of in 2017 and 2010, respectively. The program aims to boost China’s panda populations by reintroducing those born in human care to the wild—that means Bei Bei’s offspring or descendants could be reintroduced to the wild, the National Zoo says.

“I think it’s really neat that it’s one of the positive cultural exchanges that are happening,” D.C. resident Drew Deutsche said. He stood with his son Tyler writing a postcard to Bei Bei. “You know, particularly in today’s environment,” Deustche added, alluding to the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.

Then there’s 7-year-old Vera Shiskin. She stood with her mom Silvia writing a postcard to the giant panda. Asked her advice for Bei Bei’s flight to China, Vera replied, “He should try to fall asleep at least for a little bit of the flight.”

Monday marks the last day for National Zoo visitors to say bye-bye to Bei Bei, before FedEx flies the 240-pound panda to Chengdu, China, on Tuesday. But no matter where he calls home, Bei Bei is sure to have a loyal fan base wishing him well.

This story originally appeared in WAMU. 

Previously:
The Zoo Is Bracing For An Emotional, Weeklong Goodbye To Bei Bei
Somehow It Is Already Time For Bei Bei To Leave Us