'Grow a little stronger'

In February 2017 at the Wukesong Sports Center in Beijing, Xi bent over and bumped a nine-year-old hockey player's shoulder with his own -- a special greeting in the game.

"Grow a little bit stronger, young man," Xi said to him with a smile.

"I always bear in mind the excitement when grandpa Xi shook hands and bumped shoulders with me. Grandpa Xi is like a family member. Whenever I make some progress, I want to share with him," said the player, Guan Zizhao. Guan is now a junior high school student and has won several ice hockey games for his school.