High notes, warm welcomes and tasty dishes greet US president

President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting US President Donald Trump at the square outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Wu Zhiyi / China Daily

Editor's note:

China continued its "state visit-plus" reception for US President Donald Trump on Thursday, with special arrangements at a number of official events in Beijing. China Daily brings you a detailed account of the events and exchanges between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart.

Bells chime for friendship

A special performance of chimes, known in Chinese as bianzhong, was arranged for US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

Melodies greeted President Xi Jinping and Trump as they walked in the Great Hall of the People to the venue of their talks, following the welcoming ceremony outside the hall.

The ancient musical instruments, which first appeared around 3,000 years ago, were displayed at the Great Hall to display the rich traditions and long history of Chinese culture to the high-level US guests.

The artists performed music specially composed for the event by the president of China Conservatory of Music.

The bells of bianzhong, cast in bronze, are oval and of different sizes arranged to the order of the pitch. They are hung on a large wooden frame.

The bells are struck with a wooden mallet or a long stick to produce the tones.