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Girl, panda share more than just a name

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A girl of Chinese and Scottish descent named Tian Tian met her namesake - a female panda - at Edinburgh Zoo on Thursday.

Tian Tian licks her 'panda cake' in her enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland on Dec 25. The United Kingdom's only pair of giant pandas were treated to an extra helping of panda cake on Christmas morning to celebrate their first Christmas in Scotland. [China Daily]

Tian Tian Brunton, 7, of Peebles, Scotland, visited the panda Tian Tian with her parents and younger sister Lu Lu. "This is the first time that I have visited the panda," Tian Tian told China Daily. "I was too excited to sleep last night."

"We are very happy. My two daughters love pandas. They have been very excited about seeing the two pandas today," Tian Tian's mother said.

"They went to bed early last night, but couldn't sleep and kept asking, 'When can we see the pandas?'" the mother added.

Before meeting Tian Tian, the girl wrote a note to the animal, noting everything they had in common. "The first is that we have the same name. This has made me quite famous at school as everyone has heard about you coming from China to live in Edinburgh," the girl wrote in her letter.

Tian Tian arrived at Edinburgh Zoo on Dec 4 with another panda named Yang Guang. An exhibit displaying the pandas opened to the public on Dec 16.

Tian Tian Brunton also wrote that she and the panda, which was born in 2003, were almost the same age. She mentioned that she is half Chinese. Her mother is from Tianjin, and her father is from Scotland.

Worrying that it might be lonely, Tian Tian Brunton reassured the panda that people in Scotland are just as friendly as people in China.

"She affixed an image of her face, which we made in Tianjin, at the end of the letter, and her photo was taken in Beijing," Tian Tian's mother said. The girl even offered to chat in Chinese with the female panda and explained how pleased she was that it had brought her friend Yang Guang with her to Scotland. The girl also enclosed a photograph of herself for the panda.

"We were really touched to receive Tian Tian Brunton's letter and photograph. (It was) a really enchanting read, and we were only too happy to arrange for her to meet our panda of the same name," said Hugh Roberts, chief executive of Edinburgh Zoo.

"It's particularly lovely to hear of this special connection with a Scottish child," Roberts said, adding that having access to pandas is an amazing educational opportunity for children all over Scotland and the UK.

Scottish Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop attended the meeting between the girl and the panda. "I'm delighted to make my first visit to the pandas today with Tian Tian Brunton and her family, who epitomize the coming together of the two cultures," Hyslop said.

The two pandas have been a huge draw for visitors to Edinburgh Zoo. Tens of thousands of people have visited Tian Tian and Yang Guang, giving them a very warm welcome. "That is great news for Scotland's economy and our tourism sector," Hyslop said.

Securing the loan of the two pandas is a considerable honor and a strong symbol of the growing relationship between Scotland and China, Hyslop said.

Dear Tian Tian,

I am really looking forward to you coming to stay in Edinburgh because we have a lot of things in common with each other!

The first is that we have the same name. This has made me quite famous at school as everyone has heard about you coming from China to live in Edinburgh.

The second is that I am half Chinese, as my mummy is Chinese. She is from Tianjin which is very close to Beijing. My daddy is Scottish. He was born in Edinburgh.

The third is that we are almost the same age, as you were born in 2003 and I was born in 2004. I don't know if you have any brothers or sisters but I have a little sister. She is called Lu Lu and is 5 years old.

I hope to be able to come and see you (lots of) times. Not many people here in Scotland can speak Chinese but some are learning.

Lonely? We can have a chat, because I can speak Chinese.

I know that you are bringing a friend with you, Yang Guang, so hopefully you will not be too lonely.

The people in Scotland are really friendly. Just like in China. One thing that I notice when I visit my granny and granddad in China is that the food is different. I think you eat bamboo shoots, but I don't know what they taste like. I think that a lot of people will be coming to see you and Yang Guang so that you can recognize me I have put a photograph of me as well.

Lots of Love

Tian Tian Brunton