'Hometown diplomacy' between Chinese and foreign leaders

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on her eighth official visit to China which will take her to Premier Li Keqiang's hometown Hefei in East China's Anhui province on Friday. Invited and accompanied by Li, Merkel will visit farmhouses and a local school.

Why do Chinese leaders invite foreign leaders to their hometowns? Where are the leaders' hometowns and who have been invited to visit? You'll find the answers here.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the world-renowned terra-cotta warriors in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 14, 2015. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/Asianewsphoto]

Hometown: Xi'an, Shaanxi province

Foreign leader invited:

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

In May 2015, Modi visited Xi'an in Shaanxi province.

Xi treated Modi to an all-vegetarian banquet with traditional Chinese delicacies. Modi was also welcomed with a traditional Tang dynasty performance after dinner, which involved song and dance by performers in spectacular costumes.

Modi said he was honored that Xi gave him a warm welcome. "President Xi's welcome also touched the hearts of 1.25 billion Indian people," Modi said.

This was the first time Xi has welcomed a foreign leader to his hometown.