US President Donald Trump (2nd L) looks up as he sits beside First Lady Melania Trump (L) and China’s President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea’s nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
Published November 8, 2017 at 1:51 PM Updated November 20, 2017 at 6:04 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his “state visit-plus” to China on Wednesday afternoon with a taste of Chinese history and culture.
Both countries expect Trump’s first trip to China to be “historic” and generate significant results on bilateral relations as well as issues of common concern. But ahead of the official welcome ceremony and formal talks, the US president spent his first day in Beijing in a casual way.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan invited Trump and his wife Melania to the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, where they had an afternoon tea, walked along the museum’s central axis, watched the repair of historical relics, and enjoyed Peking Opera.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive on Air Force One in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on November 8 for the critical leg of his Asia tour to drum up an uncompromising, global front against the nuclear weapons ambitions of the "cruel dictatorship" in North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
Children wave to the car carrying US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after their arrival at Beijing airport on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
US President Donald Trump holds hands with First Lady Melania Trump in the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (L) looks at First Lady Melania Trump (2nd L) next to China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) as they tour the Conservation Scientific Laboratory of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Andy Wong
US President Donald Trump (2nd L), walking with First Lady Melania Trump (L), looks at China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan as they tour the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd L), First Lady Melania Trump (L), China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan look at the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd L) looks up as he sits beside First Lady Melania Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (L) looks up as he sits beside China's President Xi Jinping during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd R) walks with First Lady Melania Trump (C) and China's President Xi Jinping (R) during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd L) looks up as he sits beside First Lady Melania Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 8 as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea's nuclear threats. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump talks to opera performers at the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump look at relics as they tour the Conservation Scientific Laboratory of the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / POOL / Andy Wong
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tour the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
(From 2nd L to R) US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan look at the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd L), First Lady Melania Trump (L), China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan take a tour in the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
(From L to R) US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose in the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on November 8 for the critical leg of his Asia tour to drum up an uncompromising, global front against the nuclear weapons ambitions of the "cruel dictatorship" in North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
China's President Xi Jinping ( front L) and US President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI
US First Lady Melania Trump (2nd L) and China's First Lady Peng Liyuan (L) are shown an art work in a calligraphy class during a visit to Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / GREG BAKER
US First Lady Melania Trump (R) and China's First Lady Peng Liyuan (L) attend a visit to Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / GREG BAKER
US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping speak during a joint statement in Beijing on November 9, 2017. /AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
China's President Xi Jinping speaks during a press conference with US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping wave after delivering a joint statement at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
China's First Lady Peng Liyuan waves goodbye to students after a visit with US First Lady Melania Trump to Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Greg Baker
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a business meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put their professed friendship to the test on November 9 as the least popular US president in decades and the newly empowered Chinese leader met for tough talks on trade and North Korea. / AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
China's President Xi Jinping (L) speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI
US President Donald Trump (L) gestures next to China's President Xi Jinping during a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI
US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping leave a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI
US President Donald Trump (2nd R) gestures toward China's President Xi Jinping (3rd L), as US First Lady Melania Trump (C) and Xi's wife Peng Liyuan (R) look on, the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US First Lady Melania Trump (L) walks with Peng Liyuan, wife of China's President Xi Jinping, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (2nd R) speaks to China's President Xi Jinping (L) in front of US First Lady Melania Trump (2nd L) and Xi's wife Peng Liyuan (R) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive for the state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
A video showing US President Donald Trump's granddaughter Arabella Kushner singing is broadcast during a state dinner hosted by China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
While media coverage of Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Thursday focused on trade and North Korea, it was the wide-eyed crooning of the US leader's granddaughter that stole Chinese netizens' hearts. / AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON
US President Donald Trump (R) and First Lady Melania Trump (2nd R) attend a state dinner hosted by China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping (R) attend a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
China's First Lady Peng Liyuan (C) sits with US First Lady Melania Trump (L) as they watch a cultural performance during a visit to Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Greg Baker
US First Lady Melania Trump (C) is flanked by China's First Lady Peng Liyuan (2nd R) and Chris Branstad (2nd L), the wife of US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, as they watch a cultural performance during a visit to Banchang Primary School in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work "hard" and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing on November 9, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Greg Baker
China's President Xi Jinping makes a toast during a state dinner for US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.
Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work hard and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis during talks in Beijing Thursday, warning that "time is quickly running out". / AFP PHOTO / POOL / THOMAS PETER
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