What is the political weight of Diaoyutai State Guesthouse where Putin is staying?
More than 1,400 heads of state have stayed in the compound, with the Russian president usually accommodated in its most prestigious villa
Diaoyutai is a familiar setting for Putin, who has visited China more than 20 times and personally met President Xi Jinping on more than 40 occasions since 2013, according to state news agency Xinhua. He usually resides in Villa 18, the most prestigious of its buildings.
Then-president Nixon followed the next year, famously practising his “chopstick skills” for six months before his arrival to impress his hosts at the Diaoyutai banquet table. He was also accommodated at Villa 18.
The last American president to stay at Diaoyutai was Bill Clinton during his 1998 trip, but the guest house has also served as the location for meetings with Barack Obama and George W. Bush during their presidencies.
President Donald Trump last week stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, which opened in 2012 and is just 700 metres (less than half a mile) from the American embassy. During his 2017 visit, he stayed at the St Regis Beijing, which opened in 1997.
Located within the tranquil Diaoyutai Scenic Area in the capital’s western suburbs, the 420,000 square metre (4.52 million sq ft) estate takes its name from a fishing pavilion built by Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin dynasty over 800 years ago.