Aides say U.S. President Barack Obama really enjoys sightseeing breaks during the hectic schedules of his foreign trips, since they let him clear his head.

The blustery wind on the Great Wall on Wednesday may have helped as well, as Obama broke away from tour guides and walked alone for a few minutes to Badaling’s third watchtower.

Mao said “Bu Dao Changcheng Fei Hao Han” which can mean “You aren’t a great man until you’ve been to the Great Wall” but also implies “You aren’t a good Chinese until you’ve been to the Great Wall.”

Nixon said “I think you would have to conclude that this is a Great Wall and it had to be built by a great people.”

And Obama?

“It’s magical. It reminds you of the sweep of history and our time here on Earth is not that long and we better make the best of it.”

He hadn’t brought a camera, but he did seem reluctant to leave, instead posing for photos with American and Chinese ambassadors.

“It gives you a good perspective on a lot of the day to day things. They don’t amount to much in the scope of history,” Obama added.

Video credit: Jimmy Guan

Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, arguably the world’s two most powerful men, stand shoulder to shoulder for their respective national anthems in Beijing on Tuesday.

But there are few smiles ahead of a morning of bilateral meetings on everything from the value of China’s currency to global warming. With their nations’ fates so bound to the relationship, and faced with the challenge of juggling trade and Tibet, it’s anyone’s guess what’s going through their minds.

It doesn’t help when a slightly disorientated Obama bumps into Hu’s back. But the Chinese President comes to the rescue with a gentle tug in the right direction.

“Which way are we going?” Obama asks Hu (who is not known to speak much English) as they leave their joint press briefing.

The question others may be asking is: “Who’s leading whom?”

Photo credit: David Gray

Video credit: Mark Chisholm, Jimmy Guan 

To watch the Reuters report click here

Guan Yongning is a senior cameraman with Reuters Television in Beijing . In  15 years in the field,  he has covered stories ranging from natural disasters to politics and major sporting events.  Guan was one of the chosen few reporters able to follow U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit in China up-close.  He tells the story of what reporters have to go through to capture a few precious shots of the U.S. leader.

The reporters able to cover Obama’s visit up close might be considered the lucky ones. Following the American commander-in-chief means long hours working days,  skipping meals, lugging around heavy gear and enduring the harsh Beijing winds. But would they give up the chance?

Beijing’s local Americans believe Obama can maintain his popularity with the Chinese public just as long as he focuses on their main interests - trade relations and the fate of the huge Chinese holdings of U.S. government debt.

Tim’s Texas BBQ restaurant offers Beijing’s several thousand expat Americans grilled ribs, beer and live TV coverage of the President’s visit to China, from  November 15 to 18.  Chinese President Hu Jintao and American President Barack Obama are expected to discuss a wide range of issues from trade to currency imbalance and climate change to human rights.

The U.S. President may be in China but it is business as usual for Beijing’s American acupuncturist.
 Connecticut born Bryan McMahon is treating a Chinese patient in his traditional courtyard in the backstreets of Beijing.
  Bryan has spent years studying Chinese traditional medicine in both Beijing and Shanghai.
 He says that part of the reason he chose Chinese medicine over its western alternative was the way in which it is so deeply rooted within Chinese culture.
Bryan’s patient Sai Na  believes the American-Chinese approach to acupuncture offers a new and improved form of treatment.

A wintery climate change warning from Beijing’s Great Wall - and a snowy hike for those involved.

This chilly climate change message led Beijing Oxfam volunteers, organisers and journalists on a long hike along a deserted and slippery Great Wall and across fields before finally setting up for a photoshoot which would send an unexpectedly snowy climate message to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Oxfam called on the President to play a key role in the upcoming Copenhagen talks.

Obama marketing Hits China

 Obama mania takes hold of Beijing ahead of the U.S. President’s first state visit to China from November 15 to November 18.

Chinese artist Liu Bolin, a boutique clothes designer and even a hairdresser are all taking Barack Obama as their muse in bizarre and unique ways.

An evening’s entertainment in traditional Chinese style.

Sichuan face-changing dances and teacup musicians keep the ancient Chinese arts alive in the famous Lao She Teahouse at the centre of Beijing.

Beijing based Reuters Sports Reporter Nick Mulvenney gets the ride of a lifetime in the passenger seat of F1 Champion Jenson Button’s race car, for a whirlwind tour inside Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest stadium. 

Video credit: Kitty Bu and Wang Shubing

Beijing’s young graffiti artists use derelict buildings as the canvas to share their take on the world.

Armed with spray paint, the graffiti team known as “Beijing Penzi” enthusiastically sets to work, giving a derelict building a new lease on life.

Graffiti is not encouraged in the Chinese capital, but the street art is beginning to creep onto the capital’s streets. Debate rages over whether it’s eye-catching or just an eyesore.

Beijing has its own graffiti custodian, known as LLYS. His blog gives regularly updated photographs of new graffiti appearing on the city’s streets. Or try Beijing Penzi member 0528’s blog.

To watch the full Reuters Report click here.