CHENGDU, SICHUAN PROVINCE: Eight giant pandas arrived in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Saturday to help spread the spirit of friendship of the Olympics.

It is also hoped that the display of these pandas will educate the public about the endangered species.

The pandas - a national treasure of China - hail from the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve, 32 kilometres from the epicentre of the Wenchuan earthquake.

Five staff members died and the reserve was badly damaged in the quake, but all the 60 or so pandas there survived the disaster, although two are missing.

An elaborate send-off ceremony was originally planned for the pandas, but it was shelved amidst the deadly earthquake.

The pandas, with an average age of about one year and nine months, are among the healthiest and despite the quake, adapted well to their plane journey to Chengdu.

"They are very healthy and adaptable since they've arrived in Chengdu. They should have no problems staying in Beijing," said Dr Liu Li, a vet at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The pandas will be on display in Beijing until November, and are expected to draw more than six million tourists. - CNA/ir