Dec 8, Shenzhen and Zhuhai

A fishing village in Shenzhen's Luohu district that had been visited by Deng Xiaoping and Hu Jintao

Lianhuashan Park in Shenzhen, in which Xi laid a wreath in front of a statue of Deng Xiaoping

Hengqin New Area in Zhuhai, the third national new area after Shanghai's Pudong and Tianjin's Binhai

China Aviation Industry General Aircraft, a general aircraft manufacturer in Zhuhai

Villagers looked through their windows to the square of a fishing village, where people gathered and said: "I have never before seen Xi, the general secretary (of the Party)."

On Jan 25, 1984, reformist leader Deng Xiaoping also paid a visit to the fishing village, which overlooks Hong Kong on the other side of a river.

Villagers said that Xi and his group suddenly appeared in the square at about 9 am.

He was soon surrounded by a crowd. He smiled, shook hands and hugged a child at his side.

Deng Guohua, 32, a local resident, said he was told that a "very important leader" would visit his village but he had never expected it would be Xi. His 54-year-old mother, Song Lirong, prepared some fruits for the leaders' visit.

"My family asked the general secretary to take a seat on the sofa. But Xi was more polite, asking us to sit first," Deng said.

Deng said he was touched that Xi slid open a window on the bus to wave to villagers when he left.

During a visit to Lianhua hill, Xi laid a basket of flowers in homage to late leader Deng Xiaoping and led his entourage in bowing three times in tribute as he echoed Deng's groundbreaking theory, made in the same province 20 years ago, that China must deepen reforms to develop its market economy.

Before leaving, Xi planted a tree in the park, as Deng once had done.

Li Hao, a retired former Party chief of Shenzhen, accompanied Xi during his visit to the park. "Xi's visit encourages us. It is a promise he made to China," Li said.