Glamorous new first lady Peng Liyuan has emerged as Chinese diplomacy's latest star, cutting a very different profile from her staid predecessors on her debut official visit abroad to Russia.
A well-known performer on state television, Peng featured prominently in Sunday's state media coverage of husband and President Xi Jinping's activities in Moscow, Xi's first state visit since assuming the presidency earlier this month.
Peng, 50, watched song and dance routines at a performing arts school in Moscow on Saturday, and is famed for her CCTV performances.
She also serves as an ambassador for the World Health Organisation, working on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS outreach.
While sometimes described as a folk singer, she holds the rank of major general in the People's Liberation Army and is best known for her stirring renditions of patriotic odes, often while wearing full dress uniform.
Peng's approach to the political limelight appears to be enhancing her popularity at home, judging by  comments from a group of musicians who gather in a downtown Beijing park.
"We like her not only now, but long before. Now we like her even more," said Ms Kong, a former shop assistant.
The wives of China's top officials have traditionally been mostly invisible at home and attracted little attention while accompanying their husbands on state visits abroad.
Peng and Xi have one daughter, a student at Harvard who remains out of the limelight.
Xi's trip continues this week with stops in Tanzania, South Africa and Congo, during which Peng is expected to hold other public events.