On the south turf of the White House, there's a stone which commamerates a Chinese provincial governor who highly praised US democracy.

Xu Jiyu, known as Hsu Chi-yu in America, was a governor of southeast Zhejiang Province in Qing Dynasty"(1644-1911). In his scholastic book Universal Geographic, Xu praised the heroic deeds of George Washington and the democratic system the country adopted.

Xu finished his book in 1848 and the stone with Xu's flattering words on it reached the U.S through Christian clergy five years later.

He was later promoted deputy premier of the Qing Empire, responsible of pushing forward new policies on foreign affairs and education.

In 1998, Bill Clinton used the story of Xu as a start to his speech at the Beijing University on his China visit.

Xu was born in Xinzhong, central China's Shanxi province. As the home to China's late famous warlord Yan Xishan, Xinzhou is promoting its rich tourist resources, including the Mt. Wutai.

The Xinzhou government is making an active preparation to add China's top Buddhist Mountain into the World Cultural Relics list managed by the United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization.

The following is a literal translation of part of the original text on the stone.

"The country (the United States) neither established titles of nobility and royalty, nor created a hereditary system, state affairs are put to the vote of public opinion."

"This created a new political situation, unprecedented from ancient times to the present. How wonderful it is!"

"Of all the famous Westernersof ancient and modern times, can Washington be plced in any position but first."