Following discussions on trade, Taiwan, and Iran, Chinese President Xi Jinping took U.S. President Donald Trump on a tour of the centuries-old trees within Beijing’s walled ‘Zhongnanhai’ compound. During the final hours of their summit, the two leaders took a brief stroll through the grounds.
This former imperial garden currently serves as the headquarters for the ruling Communist Party and the State Council—China’s cabinet. The compound is situated right next to the capital’s famous landmarks: the ‘Forbidden City’ and Tiananmen Square.
A conversation between the two leaders, captured by hidden microphones, revealed Trump expressing astonishment upon learning that some of the trees were a thousand years old.
As Xi Jinping, speaking through an interpreter, gestured toward the trunks of several massive trees, he was heard saying, “Let me tell you: all the trees on this side are over 200 to 300 years old. And over there, there are some trees that are more than 400 years old.”
Trump replied, “They live that long?”
Xi added, “In other parts of the grounds, there are even trees that are a thousand years old.”
Trump then asked Chinese President Xi whether leaders from other countries were ever welcomed into this compound.
Xi replied, “Very rarely. Initially, we typically did not hold any diplomatic events here. Even after we began hosting some events, it remains an extremely rare occurrence. For instance, Putin has visited here.”
Xi then invited the U.S. President to touch a 280-year-old tree.
U.S. President Donald Trump poses for a photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a tour of the Zhongnanhai Gardens. May 15, 2026, Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Trump responded, “Nice. I like that.”
The moment offered a rare glimpse into the informal interactions between heads of state. Earlier, last September, while they were on their way to watch Beijing’s military parade at Tiananmen Square, a conversation between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin was captured by a hidden microphone. In it, they were heard discussing organ transplantation and the possibility of humans living up to 150 years.
