Their private jet landed in a blaze of publicity befitting their status as international celebrities.
And now, one year arriving at Edinburgh Zoo, they have made more than half a million new friends.
But as Tian Tian and Yang Guang mark the anniversary of their arrival tomorrow, staff hope 2013 will be the year they finally hear the patter of tiny panda feet.
The animals jetted in from China on December 4 last year and have become the zoo's biggest stars, attracting more than 500,000 visitors.
Some 70,000 cuddly toy pandas have been sold at the zoo's giftshop, while it is thought their A-list status has generated an extra £3million revenue.
The animals will stay in Edinburgh for at least another nine years.
However, Cupid's arrow has yet to strike for the pair, as Tian Tian, whose name means 'Sweetie' and male Yang Guang, meaning 'sunshine', have failed to mate.
The animals have a very limited breeding season, and experts believe Yang Guang came in to season two weeks after Tian Tian.
Next year, keepers are set to enforce a strict 'lights out' policy in an attempt to synchronise the animals' breeding cycles.
source: dailymail
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