By BBC Info World
It is the first visit by an American leader in almost ten years, and Beijing has rolled out the red carpet, taking President Donald Trump to some historic sites.
And Trump has seemed impressed.
For China, the meticulous choreography of the visit could be designed to show its might and long history, and that its doors are open to visitors on the world stage.
Below, we present 3 iconic places that are part of the summit between Xi and Trump.
1. Great Hall of the People
At an arrival ceremony held in the Great Hall of the People, Trump was greeted by a military band and waving children.
This state building, located west of Tiananmen Square, is where China’s National Standard Assembly meets and is often used to receive foreign leaders.
Opened in 1959, it was one of the “Ten Great Buildings” that commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Standard Republic of China.
The huge complex houses hundreds of classrooms and offices. The auditorium has capacity for more than 10,000 people, while 5,000 diners can dine simultaneously in the State Banquet Hall.
3. The Temple of Heaven
After the bilateral talks, the leaders toured the Temple of Heaven, a 600-year-old imperial complex that Trump called a “magnificent place.”
He thus becomes the second sitting US president to visit the site, after Gerald Ford in 1975.
The layout of its 92 buildings, nestled among gardens and forests, symbolizes the relationship between Earth and Heaven.
Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices here and prayed for abundant harvests, reflecting Chinese rulers’ belief in divine connection.
3. Zhongnanhai
On the second day of the summit, Xi and Trump will pose for a “friendship photo” and shake hands in Zhongnanhai, a former imperial garden located next to the Forbidden City in central Beijing.
A sign at the entrance reads: “Long live the great Communist Party of China!”
The hermetic and heavily guarded Zhongnanhai complex houses the offices and residences of China’s top leaders.
Receiving an invitation to this place is usually considered, for foreign dignitaries, a sign of closeness and recognition.
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