dexinwin WASHINGTON, September 25, 2026— Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington on September 24, highlighting art, cultural heritage and youth exchanges during Xi’s state visit to the United States.
The two visited several galleries and viewed Asian artworks, including the museum’s famous Peacock Room and an 18th-century Chinese porcelain vase from the Qianlong period. They also watched American students perform Chinese songs, adding a youth and educational dimension to the cultural exchange.
Exploring the Museum’s Peacock Room
During the visit, Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump were accompanied by museum officials as they toured the galleries, including the renownedPeacock Room.
The room was created by American artist James McNeill Whistler in the late 19th century. Its elaborate interior combines painting, decoration and architectural design, incorporating visual influences from Asian art, including Chinese ceramics and Japanese design.
The Peacock Room was later acquired by American collector Charles Lang Freer and became part of the Smithsonian’s Asian art collection. It remains one of the museum’s best-known spaces and illustrates the influence of Asian artistic traditions on American artists and collectors.
The room’s cross-cultural character made it a notable part of the visit, offering an example of how artistic traditions from different parts of the world have interacted over time.
Viewing Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain
The two also viewed an important Chinese porcelain work dating from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.
The 18th-century piece was produced in Jingdezhen and features elaborate decorative patterns, including floral motifs and colorful enamel work.
Museum officials explained the history and artistic characteristics of the piece to the two visitors. The artwork is part of the collections associated with the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, which together form the National Museum of Asian Art.
The porcelain provided another direct connection to China's artistic heritage during the visit, complementing the broader exploration of Asian art in the museum.
Peng Liyuan Highlights Cultural Heritage Cooperation
During the visit, Peng Liyuan spoke positively about efforts by U.S. institutions to return Chinese cultural artifacts to China.
She expressed hope that China and the United States would continue to strengthen cooperation in cultural exchange and the protection of cultural heritage, according to Chinese official reports.
Cultural heritage protection has become one of the areas through which museums and cultural institutions in different countries can maintain long-term professional exchanges.
The discussion therefore extended beyond the artworks displayed in the museum to broader issues involving cultural preservation and cooperation.
American Students Perform Chinese Songs
One of the most notable moments of the visit came at the end of the museum tour, when an American youth choir performed Chinese songs for Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump.
Students from a Chinese-language school in the Washington area performed“Jasmine Flower” (Mo Li Hua)as well as another Chinese-language song.
The performance gave the event a strong youth-exchange component, linking the museum visit with language learning and cultural education.
Peng Liyuan interacted with the young performers and encouraged them to continue learning Chinese and developing their understanding of Chinese culture. Chinese official media described the students as potential participants in people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.
From Artworks to Youth Exchange
The visit brought together several different aspects of cultural exchange.
The Peacock Room demonstrated the historical influence of Asian art on American artistic and collecting traditions. The Qing Dynasty porcelain represented China's long history of ceramic craftsmanship. The student performance, meanwhile, showed how Chinese language and culture are being introduced to younger generations in the United States.
Together, these elements created a cultural program that extended beyond a conventional museum tour.
The White House described the event as highlightingSino-American artwork, culture and the next generation, emphasizing the role of cultural institutions and young people in international exchange.
A Museum With a Broad Asian Art Collection
The National Museum of Asian Art is part of the Smithsonian Institution and houses one of the United States' major collections of Asian art.
Its holdings cover a wide range of regions and historical periods, including China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Islamic world.
The museum's collections have also played a role in documenting the historical interactions between Asian and Western artistic traditions.
For the visit by Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump, the museum therefore provided a setting directly connected to cultural exchange and the history of Asian art in the United States.
Cultural Activities Accompany High-Level Diplomacy
The museum visit took place on the same day that Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held formal activities in Washington.
Xi arrived in the United States on September 23 for a state visit. On September 24, Trump hosted a formal welcoming ceremony at the White House, followed by talks between the two presidents. Trump and Melania Trump also hosted a state dinner for Xi and Peng later that evening.
While the presidential meetings focused on bilateral relations and other substantive issues, the museum visit provided a separate setting for cultural interaction.
The participation of Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump allowed the program to focus on art, cultural heritage and young people rather than formal diplomatic negotiations.
A Cultural Exchange Across Generations
From historic artworks to contemporary youth performances, the visit covered a broad range of cultural themes.
The Peacock Room reflected the long history of artistic exchange between Asia and the United States. The Chinese porcelain displayed the craftsmanship of China's Qing Dynasty. The performance by American students demonstrated how cultural exchange can continue through language education and music.
The event also highlighted the role museums can play in connecting historical heritage with contemporary cultural relations.
Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump's visit to the National Museum of Asian Art was therefore one of the cultural activities surrounding Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington, offering a glimpse of how art, heritage and youth education can form part of broader international engagement.
Rather than focusing solely on high-level meetings, the program brought attention to the cultural links that exist between the peoples of China and the United States and to the role of the next generation in maintaining those exchanges.
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