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For his final engagement in Beijing, US President Donald Trump was on Friday ushered into one of the world’s most secretive centres of political power – Zhongnanhai, the heavily fortified leadership compound where China’s ruling Communist Party rules the country.
The rare invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Trump was packed with symbolism. Xi personally guided Trump through Zhongnanhai’s manicured imperial gardens, pointed out centuries-old trees and hosted him for tea and lunch inside the sprawling lakeside compound that has long remained hidden from ordinary Chinese citizens and foreign visitors alike, CNN reported.
Xi said he chose the venue to reciprocate Trump hosting him at Mar-a-Lago in Florida during their first summit in 2017.
“Zhongnanhai is the place where leaders of the party and the central government of China work and live, including myself,” Xi told Trump, according to Chinese state media.
The visit to Zhongnanhai came after two days of talks between Trump and Xi focused on Taiwan, trade tensions, Iran and broader Indo-Pacific security issues. Trump’s Beijing trip marked his first visit to China in nearly nine years, reviving one of the world’s most consequential diplomatic relationships amid rising geopolitical tensions.
ALL ABOUT ZHONGNANHAI
Often compared to the White House or the Kremlin, Zhongnanhai sits beside Beijing’s Forbidden City behind centuries-old red walls and layers of intense security. Access to the compound is overseen by an elite military guard unit tasked with protecting China’s top leadership. Public imagery of the site is tightly controlled, while details of the compound are frequently obscured on digital maps and online platforms.
Only a handful of American presidents have ever entered the compound. Former US President Richard Nixon met then-Chinese leader Mao Zedong there during his historic 1972 China visit. Former US Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama were also granted rare access during their presidencies, CNN reported.
Originally built as an imperial retreat during China’s dynastic era, Zhongnanhai once served as a leisure garden for emperors living in the nearby Forbidden City. After the Communist Party came to power in 1949, Mao Zedong transformed it into the nerve centre of modern Chinese politics, deliberately avoiding the Forbidden City to distance the new communist state from China’s imperial past.
Today, the 1,500-acre compound blends ancient pavilions, lakes and temples with modern offices and leadership residences. Xi highlighted the site’s historical continuity during the tour, showing Trump trees hundreds of years old – including one he said was nearly 500 years old.
At one point, Xi encouraged Trump to touch the ancient trees, praising their longevity and resilience. Trump, visibly impressed by the secluded compound, responded, “Nice place. I like it. I could get used to this.”
The carefully choreographed walk through Zhongnanhai offered more than diplomatic hospitality. It was also a display of continuity, control and confidence from Xi, who used China’s most guarded political compound to underline both the Communist Party’s deep historical roots and his own central grip on power.
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Published On:
May 16, 2026 10:34 IST
