A big stuffed panda shakes hands with British children at Edinburgh Zoo on Friday.  [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn/Zhang Chunyan]

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom — Snapping up some leafy stalk of bamboo, two Chinese pandas in Edinburgh Zoo received their British public on Friday.

About 600 excited panda fans watched Tian Tian and Yang Guang, the first pandas in the United Kingdom after 17 years, from behind a glass window on the first day of the opening of the panda exhibit.

The number of visitors was a 200 percent increase compared with a typical mid-December Friday, the zoo said in a news release. Pre-booked numbers for the first weekend are up by almost 80 percent for a pre-Christmas winter weekend.

Louise MacLean, who pre-booked the tickets on Monday, took her two children to see the pandas on the first day. “This is the first time that we see pandas — really fantastic, especially for my babies,” MacLean said, adding that she took some pictures and videos of the two pandas with her smartphone.

A team of 14 guides were hired and spent one month of training on pandas in order to provide a running commentary on the two pandas’ every move.

“Everyone who comes today smiles; everyone is happy. Everyone loves the pandas,” said panda guide Tony Bradford.

The gift shop in Edinburgh Zoo also stocked up on a huge variety of panda-themed souvenirs, including Apple iPod docking stations, iPhone cases, bibs, key rings, suitcases, backpacks, notebooks, mugs and car stickers.

Hugh Roberts, chief executive of the zoo, told China Daily that the pair — flown from China to Edinburgh just 12 days ago — had settled in well and were enjoying the cold Scottish weather.

“They will be in their indoor house when the wind is strong,” Roberts added.

“The two have very different personalities,” said Roberts, adding that the female panda Tian Tian is naturally shyer and sometimes prefers to spend time inside, while the male panda Yang Guang is more outgoing.

Two Chinese panda experts from Ya’an Bifengxia Base in Sichuan province are at the zoo and will stay for about a month to help the pair settle in.

“The two pandas are very well in the zoo. They eat about a total of 50 to 60 kilograms of bamboo every day,” said Tang Chunxiang, vice-director of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and one of the Chinese experts staying at the zoo.

Besides bamboo, Alison MacLean, the main keeper of the two pandas, feeds the duo carrots and panda cake — a steamed mixture of soybean oil, corn and rice — four times a day.

“The Chinese experts work with Ms MacLean and us every day. They’re very nice,” Roberts said.

Tang also said Chinese panda team will go to Sctoland sometime next year for more need. “We all hope they have panda cub,” Tang said.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang have already shown signs of interest in each other, peering through the grate between their enclosures at each other and putting up their paws to the metal, Tang said.

Friday’s zoo visitors marked the start of a 10-year relationship that aims to delight the public while highlighting global conservation efforts to help of one of the world’s most endangered species.

“Wherever you are, you will have the chance to be part of Edinburgh Zoo’s panda experience. Our panda-cams will provide an easily-accessible medium for people across the world to watch, in close-up, one of the world’s most endearing creatures,” Roberts said.

According to the zoo, a total of 10,000 tickets have already been reserved through the end of January to see the pandas.