Xi surprises locals in Beijing hutong
Print Edition
President Xi Jinping surprised residents of a hutong in Beijing yesterday when he visited their courtyard homes and chatted with pedestrians near a popular shopping street, drawing praise for his unusual “public diplomacy.”
A shaky video of Xi’s visit posted online shows residents applauding him as he nears. He then stops to ask residents how long they’ve lived in the neighborhood before ambling away.
Photos posted online show Xi mobbed by people holding cameras and cellphones as he stands in a narrow alley smiling.
The central Beijing shopping street, frequented by young Chinese and tourists alike, is lined with stands selling popular street snacks such as octopus balls and red bean cakes, as well as clothing and souvenir stores.
Xi’s few forays into ordinary public settings have attracted widespread praise from the Chinese public. Xi delighted patrons of a steamed bun eatery in the capital city in December when he paid for his own food, carried his own tray and happily chatted with customers.
Choking smog has been at a high for the past few days in Beijing, and many Internet users expressed approval that the president was exposing himself to the same toxic air as everyone else without even donning a mask.
“The Party must always join hands with the people,” one user wrote. “Breathe the same air and share the same fate.”
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