Queen Elizabeth II, who 30 years ago became the first British monarch to visit China, turns 90 on Thursday. The longest-serving British sovereign met with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping during her visit to Beijing in October 1986. She welcomed three top Chinese leaders, including Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and current President Xi Jinping.

China's leader Deng Xiaoping (left) meets visiting Queen Elizabeth II in Beijing during her October 1986 visit to China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, paid a state visit to China in October 1986, becoming the first British monarch to visit the country. The week-long trip took the royal couple to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Kunming and Guangzhou.