Xi Jinping Gives Donald Trump Rare Tour of Zhongnanhai's Historic Garden

Zhongnanhai, a centuries-old imperial garden located adjacent to Beijing’s Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, now serves as the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council. The walled compound is seldom opened for diplomatic events; foreign leaders have only occasionally been received there, with Russian President Vladimir Putin noted as a prior visitor.

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• Xi Jinping – President of the People’s Republic of China and head of the Communist Party.

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• Donald Trump – President of the United States, attending a summit that covered trade, Taiwan and Iran.

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• Vladimir Putin – President of Russia, referenced as a previous guest of the compound.

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• September – A hot-mic recording captured Xi and Putin discussing organ transplants and the possibility of humans living to age 150 while walking toward Tiananmen Square for a military parade.

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• May 15, 2026 – During a summit in Beijing, Xi escorted Trump through Zhongnanhai’s garden, highlighting its ancient trees and the rarity of the visit.

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• Xi noted that trees on the side of the garden visited by Trump are “over 200 to 300 years old.”

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• Some trunks exceed 400 years, and Xi added that “there are also 1,000-year-old trees in other places.”

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• Trump was invited to touch a specific 280-year-old tree.

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President Xi, speaking through an interpreter, explained the ages of the trees and emphasized the exceptional nature of the encounter, stating that foreign diplomatic events in Zhongnanhai are “very rare.” He referenced Putin’s prior visit as an example of the limited access granted to outsiders. President Trump responded with surprise at the longevity of the trees, expressed curiosity, and accepted the invitation to touch the 280-year-old specimen.

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• “Let me tell you, all the trees on this side are over 200 to 300 years old,” — Xi Jinping, President of China

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• “They live that long?” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “Very rarely,” — Xi Jinping, President of China

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• “At first, we usually didn’t hold diplomatic events here. Even after we started having some, it’s still extremely rare. For example, Putin has been here.” — Xi Jinping, President of China

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• “Good. I like it,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “There ?are also 1,000-year-old trees in other places.” — Xi Jinping, President of China

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The walk offered a rare glimpse into the walled-off Zhongnanhai compound, underscoring the symbolic weight of personal diplomacy between Beijing and Washington. By showcasing Zhongnanhai’s historic garden, Xi highlighted China’s cultural heritage while signaling a willingness to extend limited access to a U.S. counterpart. The episode may influence perceptions of bilateral rapport amid broader negotiations on trade, Taiwan and Iran.

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