In October 1986, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh made a historic visit to the People's Republic of China. Beginning the tour in the capital of Peking (Beijing), the Queen and the Duke were welcomed by presdient Li Xiannian and a parade on Tiananmen Square. Over the following days, the pair visited the Forbidden City in Beijing's Dongcheng District and were treated to a banquet hosted by President Li. ITN's cameras caught Queen Elizabeth II's warm meeting with Deng Xiaoping, the country's unofficial but undisputed leader credited with building modern China by reforming its society and opening up its economy.

Visits to the Great Wall of China and the port city of Shanghai saw the Queen greeted by adoring crowds; in Shanghai the monarch visited the historic Huxinting Teahouse with Sir Geoffrey Howe. Later that day, the Queen and the Duke invited President Li and his wife onto the Royal Yacht Britannia for a banquet. During a particularly amusing photocall, the president's wife told him to straighten his glasses before the Queen jokingly informed him that he was allowed to smile for the cameras. The archaeological wonder of the Terracotta Army in Shaanxi Province was of great interest to Prince Philip, and the Queen and Duke enjoyed a boat trip on Lake Dianchi before ending their trip in Canton.

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