beijing lavish pageantry uncharacteristic personal flourish chinese president xi jinping wednesday roll red carpet welcome u.s president donald trump forbid city ancient home china emperors north korea trade set dominate formal part visit end friday china keen show importance put trump visit first foreign leader since end key communist party congress last month xi cement power trump wife melania whisk beijing airport meet china top diplomat yang jiechi key player outreach trump since election year ago straight forbid city chat cup tea trump show xi video granddaughter arabella kushner sing mandarin recite classical chinese poetry prompt xi compliment performance worthy a+ chinese state media say xi say hop arabella would visit china soon note already child star china official xinhua news agency say video arabella recite chinese poem go viral chinese social media shortly trump election last year another break precedent xi give trump tour imperial treasure forbid city unesco world heritage site clear tourists day two first couple watch chinese opera acrobatic display something trump say show xi walk away great time china widely expect pull stop trump press control neighbor north korea resolve yawn trade gap unite state ceremony trump arrival beijing airport wednesday also elaborate usual trump meet march band soldier stand attention smartly dress children wave miniature chinese american flag jump trump motorcade pass another rare unprecedented step trump official ceremonial welcome great hall people thursday broadcast live national television state broadcaster cctv say sprawl palace complex center beijing regular stop visit dignitaries rare chinese leader provide personal escort confirmation state visit-plus treatment china promise trump china 's xi fete trump first day beijing trip