Japan is rolling out the red carpet ahead of the arrival of much-anticipated guests from China: a pair of giant pandas. The two five-year-old pandas are due to arrive at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo tonight.

Ueno Zoo's first pair of pandas arrived in 1972, marking the signing of a peace treaty between Japan and China.

And now, a new pair - female Xiannv and male Bili, is on its way. They left Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province early in Monday morning.

Staff at the Bifengxia Panda Center in Sichuan have made preparations to help the pair better adapt to their new environment.

Tang Chunxiang, Deputy Chief, Bifengxia Panda Center, said, "We have prepared food and medicine. Even the container is made especially for them, the material is light and firm. And considering they may not be able to adapt to their new surroundings immediately, we have also bring some food with us."