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February 13, 2013

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Zhang's back with his exclusive Xi microblog

It's been a rapid, roller-coaster journey for one of China's hottest microblogs from its debut to its revival after a short closure.

Zhang Hongming, brainchild behind the microblog that posted candid snapshots of Party leader Xi Jinping going about his daily activities, updated it yesterday, just a day after he announced that he had closed the Weibo account.

"Humility is a good virtue, patient is decency, Xue Xi Fans Club," he wrote. The microblog's name is a pun meaning fans of study and fans of Xi.

"Everybody, join my hands and go on the journey," he wrote.

Zhang did not give a reason for reviving the microblog and didn't post any more pictures.

On Monday, the day after an interview with The Associated Press, Zhang said he was closing the account, adding that "the current Chinese citizens' knowledge may not be tolerant and situations may not be tolerant."

Yesterday, many online surfers and Weibo users were delighted at the return of the microblog after they had expressed their dismay at its sudden closure.

"Welcome back and let's move together," was the tone of many of the online messages.

In the interview with AP, Zhang, a male college dropout and migrant worker, said he was "both a genuine fan of China's new leader and intent on making him more accessible to the country's people."

Zhang said he initially did not want the focus to be on himself, so he registered his account under the fictitious profile of a Shaanxi Province woman.

Zhang's farewell on Monday prompted nearly 10,000 comments.

Zhang opened his Weibo account in November and soon gained fame by collecting photos of Xi from members of the public and media reports of the Party chief's visits around the country.

More than 200 photos of Xi, many of them exclusive and taken at close range, were posted on the microblog, leading some people to believe the account was being run by a group.

Zhang said the microblog was "completely an individual act."




 

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