Melania plays tourist as Trump leaves Beijing
BEIJING (Reuters) — As US President Donald Trump left Beijing bound for the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam yesterday, First Lady Melania stayed behind to play tourist, viewing pandas at the zoo and visiting the Great Wall of China.
At the Beijing Zoo, the 47-year-old former model fed a giant panda named Gu Gu and learned about his nutrition and training.
She greeted a group of school children waving miniature Chinese and American flags, handing out stuffed toy eagles after watching the children sing a Chinese folk song in front of the panda enclosure.
“Thank you very much,” she said.
Melania then signed a panda print, writing: “Thank you to the Beijing Zoo! Wonderful to meet Gu Gu! Melania Trump.”
She was also scheduled to visit the Mutianyu section of the more than 20,000 km long Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As with previous first ladies, Melania has used her platform to champion public causes such as the prevention of childhood bullying and combating the opioid epidemic in the US.
Playing a prominent supporting role on the president’s multi-leg Asia visit, she gained traction on Chinese social media with netizens comparing her with China’s glamorous first lady Peng Liyuan and remarking on the apparent ease with which she navigated the ancient cobblestones of the Forbidden City in super-high stilettos upon their arrival in Beijing on Wednesday.
Accompanied by Peng, Melania watched a cultural performance, painted pandas and participated in a cooking class at a primary school on Thursday.
Many on China’s Twitterlike Weibo praised Melania’s grace and sense of style — as well as her cultural sensitivity.