Trending Now - Xi Hosts Trump for Exclusive Tour of China's Power Hub Garden

WHO:

NBC News - Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump participated in a two-day summit.

CNN - Xi Jinping and Trump toured Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound of China’s ruling Communist Party.

WHAT:

CNN - Xi stated, “After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, we (the communist party) have been here, including Chinese leaders: Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and so on.”

CNN - Xi encouraged Trump to touch the trees in the garden, voicing his appreciation for the garden’s life and history.

CNN - The site of Zhongnanhai has undergone significant razing and renovation, including the addition of office buildings, swimming pools, and more.

CNN - The 1,500-acre site of Zhongnanhai is synonymous with the party’s elite.

CNN - Video from Chinese state media shows Trump and Xi taking photos in front of a room that was once used for ballroom dancing and to display foreign and Chinese films when the party leadership first moved to the compound.

CNN - The hidden Yingtai artificial island in Zhongnanhai holds special historical significance, as it was once the place of imprisonment for an emperor near the end of the Qing dynasty when he was stripped of power amid a failed coup.

NBC News - President Trump was struck by the beauty of Zhongnanhai’s roses during the tour, prompting Xi to vow to send seeds.

NY Post - Trump and Xi visited the Temple of Heaven, a complex of ancient architecture set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods.

BBC News - Trump and Xi toured Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded compound where China's top leaders live and work.

CNN - Trump spent his final morning in Beijing in Zhongnanhai, where he admired the roses and Xi offered to send seeds.

CNN - Xi pointed out a large tree in the garden that he said was about 490 years old and mentioned that some trees in the compound have lived to be over 1,000 years old.

CNN - After China’s imperial era ended in 1912, Zhongnanhai was repurposed as a presidential compound, and Mao Zedong established it as the center of political power after the communist victory in China’s civil war.

CNN - The last U.S. president to see Zhongnanhai was Barack Obama, who met Xi there in 2014, during which state media reported the two men discussed modern Chinese history.

NBC News - A hot mic captured Trump asking Xi if other foreign leaders were also received in the Zhongnanhai compound.

CNN - Trump and Xi held talks over tea and lunch after their stroll through the gardens.

CNN - Xi stated, “Zhongnanhai is the place where leaders of the (communist) party and the central government of China work and live, including myself.”

CNN - Xi mentioned that after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Communist Party has been based in Zhongnanhai, including leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

CNN - The gardens of Zhongnanhai were once an imperial garden used by emperors for leisure when they were not in the Forbidden City.

CNN - The site of Zhongnanhai spans 1,500 acres and includes repurposed pavilions and temples.

CNN - Trump and Xi took photos in front of a room that was once used for ballroom dancing and displaying films.

CNN - Richard Nixon was the first U.S. president to meet Mao in Zhongnanhai during his trip in 1972.

CNN - Barack Obama was the last U.S. president to visit Zhongnanhai in 2014, where he toured the Yingtai artificial island.

NBC News - Trump received a rare, private tour of the Zhongnanhai compound.

CNN - Trump admired the roses in the garden and Xi offered to send seeds.

CNN - Trump remarked, “Nice place. I like it. I could get used to this.”

CNN - Xi pointed out a tree in the garden that was about 490 years old and mentioned that some trees in the compound have lived to be over 1,000 years old.

WHERE:

NBC News - The tour took place in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai compound.

CNN - Zhongnanhai is described as the central seat of power in China, comparable to the White House or the Kremlin.

WHEN:

CNN - The meeting between Xi and Trump occurred after Trump hosted Xi at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in 2017.

WHY:

CNN - Xi chose Zhongnanhai for the tour as a gesture of thanks to Trump for hosting him in 2017.

HOW:

NY Post - Trump and Xi visited the Temple of Heaven in the southeastern part of Beijing, a complex of ancient architecture set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods.

CNN - The tour included a stroll through the gardens, with security overseen by an elite military unit responsible for the safety of top party leaders.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 17:18 UTC)

In a recent meeting, Xi highlighted the enduring legacy of the Communist Party since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, mentioning notable leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. During their time together, Xi encouraged Trump to appreciate the garden at Zhongnanhai, a site that has seen significant renovations and is closely associated with the party's elite. Video footage from Chinese state media captured the two leaders taking photos in front of a historic room that once served as a ballroom and a venue for film screenings.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 15:15 UTC)

During a recent tour, President Trump was captivated by the stunning roses at Zhongnanhai, leading Chinese President Xi to promise to send seeds as a gesture of goodwill. The two leaders also visited the Temple of Heaven, an impressive complex of ancient architecture nestled in beautiful gardens and historic pine woods. This visit highlights the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the United States and China.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 09:22 UTC)

Trump and Xi toured Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded compound that serves as the residence and workplace for China's top leaders, where Trump admired the roses and Xi offered to send seeds. During their visit, Xi pointed out a large tree in the garden, estimated to be around 490 years old, and noted that some trees in the compound have lived for over a thousand years. Earlier in the day, they also visited the Temple of Heaven, a stunning complex of ancient architecture nestled in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 07:37 UTC)

In a recent meeting, Trump and Xi engaged in discussions over tea and lunch at Zhongnanhai, a historic site that spans 1,500 acres and was once an imperial garden. During their talks, Xi highlighted the significance of Zhongnanhai, stating that it has been the residence and workplace for leaders of the Communist Party since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, including notable figures like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The two leaders also took photos in front of a room that was historically used for ballroom dancing and film displays, marking a continuation of diplomatic visits that date back to Richard Nixon's meeting with Mao in 1972 and Barack Obama's tour in 2014.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 05:53 UTC)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump recently participated in a two-day summit that included a rare, private tour of the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing, a central seat of power in China. During the tour, Trump admired the roses in the garden and remarked, “Nice place. I like it. I could get used to this,” while Xi pointed out a 490-year-old tree and offered to send Trump seeds from the garden. The visit was a gesture of thanks from Xi for Trump's hospitality during his visit to Mar-a-Lago in 2017, with security provided by an elite military unit.