<p>First Lady Pat Nixon welcomes giant pandas to Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 1972<br /> Washington, D.C.<br /> Courtesy of the Associated Press, 720420032</p>

First Lady Pat Nixon welcomes giant pandas to Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 1972
Washington, D.C.
Courtesy of the Associated Press, 720420032

<p>President Richard Nixon greets Jet Li (Li Lianjie) and his wushu troupe, 1974<br /> Washington, D.C.<br /> White House Photograph by Robert L. Knudsen<br /> Courtesy of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, WHPO-E3275-07</p>

President Richard Nixon greets Jet Li (Li Lianjie) and his wushu troupe, 1974
Washington, D.C.
White House Photograph by Robert L. Knudsen
Courtesy of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, WHPO-E3275-07

Following President Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing, the United States and China continued to improve their relations. Exchanges between the two countries increased. In 1972, the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., accepted two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, and sent China a pair of musk oxen in return. Two years later, eleven-year-old Jet Li traveled to the United States with his wushu troupe and performed for President Nixon in the White House Rose Garden.

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