Xi Story: A proud, avid history guide

"He was familiar with records and materials regarding local history and had often walked around the county to check the local cultural relics," said Shi Wensheng, a colleague of Xi when Xi served as the Party chief in the county of Zhengding, Hebei Province. "His knowledge amazed even locals like me."

The reason why Xi took such interest in history can be found in one of his books. "One can only develop true affection for one's hometown after knowing it thoroughly," said Xi in the preface of the book compiling his speeches and articles from his time in Zhengding.

At another exhibition in November 2012, "The Road to Rejuvenation", which profiled China's experiences following the First Opium War (1840-1842), Xi first put forward the notion of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

It was clear that even after his elevation to the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, this respect for history endured.