Millions of Chinese have watched as people at a US zoo say goodbye to a giant panda ahead of its long-discussed return home in 20 years.

I Me, a female panda, was surrounded by bamboo and given an iced cake made from grapes, sugar cane and cookies, according to photos and videos posted online. The event in the city of Tennessee was attended by about 500 people who followed the Chinese etiquette.

The Memphis Zoo in Memphis held a farewell event for giant panda Ya Ya on Saturday. Visitors attended the farewell to the CHINA exhibition, where they said goodbye to Ya Ya, signed letters and watched cultural performances https://t.co/OmWYCMvzQS pic.twitter.com/VkNbnE9qHa

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) April 9, 2023

The Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, hosted a farewell event for female giant panda Z-Z on Saturday. #big panda #GLOBALLink pic.twitter.com/9wodvrFT2f

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) April 9, 2023

“I I suffered so much. Come home – we are all waiting for you,” wrote one person on Weibo, known as China’s Twitter.

I Me and her partner Le Le arrived in the city of Tennessee in 2003. According to the BBC, China over the past 50 years has used everything, namely, lending or giving to foreign countries, to improve its international relations.

But recently, the Memphis Zoo has come under fire from Chinese netizens who claim that Ya Ya and Le Le were mistreated during their stay.

A video released by animal advocacy groups In Defense of Animals and Panda Voices last year showed things moving very slowly in circles.

Zoo officials countered at the time that, according to the Associated Press, they were among the most “spoiled animals” on the planet.

On its website, the zoo says, “I am living with a chronic skin and fur condition. This condition does not affect her quality of life, but sometimes her coat looks weak. Our animal care team and veterinary staff are monitoring the situation closely.”

According to the BBC