The pair of pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan took their first outdoor steps at the Taipei Zoo Saturday.

Local visitors said the pandas were well adapted to their open-air environment and vigorously played with each other throughout the morning.

Some couples even visited the pair with red rose bouquets for Valentine's Day.

The pandas, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan" (together meaning "reunion"), started to meet indoor visitors on Jan. 26, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. They arrived on the island on Dec. 23.

Pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan", play outdoors at the Taipei Zoo, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2009. The pair of pandas, whose Chinese names together means reunion, made their outdoor debut on the Valentine's Day. They started to meet indoor visitors on Jan. 26, 2009. They arrived on the island on Dec. 23, 2008
The venue for the pair's outdoor activities covers an area of 750 square meters and has been decorated with grass, trees, a waterfall and hills to simulate the wild environment where the species inhabit.

Pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan", play outdoors at the Taipei Zoo, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2009
To prevent the pair from escaping and being touched, the pandas are separated from visitors by a huge glass wall.

Panda "Yuan Yuan" plays outdoors at the Taipei Zoo, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2009
Staff reminded visitors to avoid loud noises and camera flashes since the pandas are still sensitive and easily provoked.

Pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan", play outdoors at the Taipei Zoo, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2009.
According to the zoo, 330,000 visitors so far have come to see the pandas.

Pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan", play outdoors at the Taipei Zoo, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2009
Source:Xinhua