Before Donald Trump departed China, Xi Jinping charmed him one last time, walking him through the walled-off imperial garden of his opulent palace. 

The two leaders toured Zhongnanhai, the guarded complex where China’s top leaders live and work. Cameras captured Xi guiding Trump by the hand through an archway to a grove of 300-year-old trees.

As Xi explained how some of the trees had merged together, Trump stopped the tour with a blunt question.

‘Can you ask the President: when other presidents or prime ministers from other countries visit, does he bring them here?’ Trump said, turning to his translator.

‘Very rarely,’ Xi replied with a chuckle. ‘For example, Putin has been here.’

At the end of the tour, Trump stops in front cameras to say how much loves the Chinese leader’s fortified compound: ‘I could get used to this.’ 

The viral moment was one of the few unscripted interactions between Xi and Trump at the high-stakes summit.  

Hours later, before boarding Air Force One, Trump’s team dumped the Chinese gifts and items collected during the trip, a standard precaution against listening devices and other intelligence threats.

As Xi explained how some of the trees had merged together, Trump stopped the tour with a blunt question

‘Can you ask the President: when other presidents or prime ministers from other countries visit, does he bring them here?’ Trump said, turning to his translator

Trump’s team dumped the Chinese gifts and items collected during the trip, a standard precaution against listening devices and other intelligence threats

After sitting down for afternoon tea, Xi spoke through a translator and explained why he had invited Trump to Zhongnanhai, a rare invite to outside leaders.

‘I have chosen this place especially to reciprocate the hospitality extended to me in 2017 at Mar-a-Lago,’ Xi said.

Trump smiled and thanked the Chinese leader for the rare invitation.