This year's National Day may be a difficult time for many giant panda lovers in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, as the municipal zoo recently announced the impending retirement and departure of their panda superstar.

Thousands of visitors flocked to bid farewell to the female panda Juan Juan during the first three days of the National Day holidays, zoo staff said.

Juan Juan arrived at the Nanchang Municipal Zoo six years ago. Now, at the age of 26, she is equivalent to a woman of more than 80 years old.

She will soon return to her hometown, the giant panda base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, to enjoy her retirement.

The zoo has in recent days received a plethora of gifts, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, from coming visitors. Many said they chose fruit since bamboo was too difficult to get.

"I don't know if she likes my fruit, but I'd like to express thanks to Juan Juan for making my child happy for six years," said Xu Hongmei, a local resident in Nanchang.

But the zoo staff said the amount of fruit they had received surpassed Juan Juan's monthly consumption. Since fruit does not keep long, they had to give it to other animals.

Apart from visiting the panda at the zoo, over 300 people have also applied to see off Juan Juan at the airport, though her departure schedule is yet to be decided.

The Nanchang Municipal Zoo has pledged to bring another two pandas to the zoo after they send Juan Juan off.