Xi Jinping Hosts Trump for Talks and Tour at Zhongnanhai

Zhongnanhai, located west of the Forbidden City, has served as the center of Chinese political power for decades. The compound features broad lakes, stately pavilions and lush greenery behind crimson walls. Access is tightly controlled and the site functions as both the official residence for the country's leader and the headquarters for the ruling Communist Party and the State Council.

The session took place in a more casual setting than the formal talks held the previous day. Officials also provided the American guests with a private tour of part of the grounds, including areas with centuries-old trees and roses described as among the most beautiful.

Zhongnanhai was once an imperial garden. It has housed generations of senior party and state leaders since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. For decades the compound has been one of China's most secretive sites, occupying an almost mythic role in public imagination of Chinese politics.

The tour marked a rare opening of the walled-off compound to a foreign leader. Officials received Trump there in the final hours before he concluded a two-day state visit to Beijing. The visit provided a brief public glimpse of the interior of the leadership compound.

The site has functioned as a political sanctuary where phones fall silent and entry is strictly limited. It stands adjacent to the Forbidden City yet remains largely hidden behind high walls and guarded gates. The decision to host talks and a tour inside the compound reflects its symbolic importance as the secluded heart of Chinese power.