Leading by example

When the eight-point rules were established, some questioned whether the campaign was merely a passing fad or a political show. Xi knew enforcement was crucial.

"Promises made must be kept. In the Political Bureau, it (enforcement) starts with me," he said.

Three days after the rules were issued, Xi visited Guangdong Province. He declined the option of staying in a presidential suite, choosing instead to stay in a standard suite at a hotel.

"He told us not to upgrade anything in the room — no new purchases, no extra additions," recalled a manager of the hotel, surnamed Qu.

At the hotel, Xi opted for a simple buffet and finished his meal in less than 20 minutes. This surprised a catering manager surnamed Yang, who noted that the restaurant typically served more dishes even for standard corporate events.

That afternoon, Xi traveled in an unassuming convoy that blended into regular traffic, traveling alongside taxis and buses, following traffic lights. Everything proceeded as usual — no cleared paths, roadblocks, banners, or trailing entourage.

The next day, no red carpets were laid out when Xi attended an event at Lianhuashan Park either.

It was a tone-setting trip that defined the simple style of Xi's over 100 domestic inspections in the following decade. He has consistently eschewed special arrangements, instead opting to follow local customs and minimize disruption to residents.

In rural Shaanxi, he dined with locals on Loess Plateau staples like buckwheat noodles and fried dough. In Gansu, he had five meals on the train to ease the reception burden on local authorities.

As the top commander of the armed forces, Xi once queued up with sailors at a lunch buffet onboard a warship and ate with them.

During his recent inspection trip to Guizhou Province last week, Xi sat on a bench at a drum tower, chatting with folk song singers, batik artists, and college graduates in a mountainous village.

Netizens compared the scene to a series of similar encounters, noting that it reflected Xi's natural and comfortable way of connecting with the public, reinforcing his image as a man of the people — something that has remained unchanged since his teenage years working in the countryside and throughout his political career.

"I often remind myself that all fellow members within the Party have entrusted me to serve as general secretary, so I must hold myself to even stricter standards, leading by example in upholding the Party Constitution and adhering to Party discipline and rules," Xi said.

He is strict with his family members, too. Xi said anyone who claims to be his friend or relative to seek favors should be firmly rejected and reported without delay.

"Communists don't play by the rules of favoritism in which someone gains power, and people connected to them receive special privileges," he has repeatedly said.

"Don't assume that being a cadre's child makes one immune to consequences. Anyone who violates Party discipline or state laws must be held accountable, and they must be dealt with even more strictly to set an example for the people," Xi said.

He demanded that the implementation of the eight-point rules begin with the 20-plus-member Political Bureau. For years, it has been a standard practice for Political Bureau members to report on their adherence to these rules during the annual criticism and self-criticism session.