Tour groups to Taiwan will be sent off in style

By Yang Lifei  |   2008-6-25  |     ONLINE EDITION

CEREMONIES in Beijing and Nanjing on July 4 will mark the first mainland travel group's departure to Taiwan, Xinhuannet.com reported.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference this morning that everything was ready for the initial trip. She also stated that mainland airlines were well-prepared for the weekend chartered flights across the Taiwan Strait, the report said.

Meanwhile, Fan also said the giant pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan that will be presented to Taiwan have been transported to a safe place from the Wolong nature reserve in Sichuan Province, according to the report.

``The May 12 earthquake severely damaged their home so the decision was made for the safety of the pandas,'' Fan was quoted as saying. ``They have arrived at another base and have adjusted to the new environment.''