Villagers recall Xi's poverty-themed visit (2)

According to Li Ningtai, secretary of the CPC Fuping County Committee, Xi stayed in a 16-square meter hotel room during the visit and followed the rule that every meal only consist of four household dishes and one bowl of soup.

Insiders revealed that the visit was initiated by Xi in the hope of understanding the lives of people in the country's most impoverished regions.

The two villages in Fuping, Luotuowan and Gujiatai, were then confirmed as the destinations.

Prior to the visit, local authorities were told to ensure that villagers say whatever was on their minds and any kind of "training" and "direction" was forbidden.

Li and other local officials were worried about Xi's impression of their work after seeing the two villages -- though only a small part of the county.

However, Li said that Xi praised local officials' poverty relief work and promised to help them.