Trump's historic visit to China begins with history

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US 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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R2) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R1), and US President Donald Trump (L2) and his wife Melania Trump pose for a photo in front of Taihedian, or the Hall of Supreme Harmony, during their visit to the Palace Museum in Beijing, November 8, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Built in the early 15th century, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace for China's Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

China is the third stop of Trump's five-nation tour in Asia. He previously visited Japan and S. Korea and will head to Vietnam and the Philippines later.

A special anniversary for Trump

Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of Trump's victory in the US presidential election. During their afternoon tea in the Baoyun Building at the Forbidden City, Xi welcomed his US counterpart to pay his state visit to China on the special day.

The Chinese president thanked his guests for their kind reception at the Mar-a-Lago estate when he visited the United States in April and wished them a pleasant time in China. Xi said he believed Trump's visit would achieve "positive and important" results.

Trump congratulated Xi on the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his re-election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. He hailed China's achievements in economic development.

With a tablet computer, Trump showed Xi and Peng video clips of his granddaughter, Arabella Kushner, singing in Mandarin and reciting a part of the Three-Character Classic and ancient Chinese poems.

Xi spoke highly of the child's Chinese language skills and said her performance deserves an "A+."

Arabella is already a child star in China, said Xi, adding that he hoped she would visit China in the future.

Built in 1915, the Baoyun Building is a Western-style architecture in the former imperial compound. It was used to store antiques, but now serves as an exhibition hall for the museum's history.

Trump immersed in Chinese culture

During the tour of the ancient palace, Xi briefed the American guests on the museum's history, architecture and culture, calling it an important window to understanding Chinese history and culture.

The US president visited Taihedian, Zhonghedian and Baohedian, three main halls of the Forbidden City. Taihedian, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, is one of the largest wooden structures in China and the largest hall in the Forbidden City.

America's first couple also attended an exhibition of antiques and watched the repair of some historical relics at the museum's conservation workshop, known as "the antiques hospital." They were invited to experience a Chinese painting being mounted on a scroll.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L2) and his wife Peng Liyuan (L), and US President Donald Trump (R2) and his wife Melania Trump (R3) watch the restoration of relics at the conservation workshop of the Palace Museum in Beijing, November 8, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Then Xi and Peng entertained Trump and Melania with a Peking Opera performance at the Belvedere of Pleasant Sounds, the largest opera theater in the Forbidden City, initially built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) to entertain the imperial family members.

With a history of more than 200 years, Peking Opera is one of China's main traditional drama forms and on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. The art combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, and US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump pose for a photo with performers after watching a Peking Opera at the Palace Museum in Beijing, November 8, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Trump thanked Xi and Peng for their hospitality and said he was deeply impressed by the richness of traditional Chinese culture.

The two sides are expected to hold official meetings on Thursday with the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and China-US trade relations topping the agenda.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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