Michelle Obama arrived in China on Thursday  for a weeklong visit that will steer  clear of politics and instead focusing on education and community.

The First Lady arrived in Beijing today,  accompanied by  daughters Sasha and Malia as well as her mother Marian  Robinson.   On Friday, she is to spend the day with Peng  Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, something which diplomats hope  will build bridges between the two countries.

CHINA – First Lady Michelle Obama will be accompanied by her children and her mother on her trip to China, which begins today. But she won’t be accompanied by the press.
“Michelle Obama’s trip to China starting on Wednesday will be nonpolitical, the White House says, a ‘people-to-people exchange’ emphasizing the importance that both nations place on education. As if to underscore the point, no reporters are traveling with the first lady, and she does not plan to give interviews while there,” reports theNew York Times.
The White House is defending the first lady bringing her family along for the ride by saying it’s what the Chinese would want. “Tina Tchen, Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff and a first-generation Chinese-American, said a multigenerational visit would be appreciated by the Chinese, who value tradition,” says the Times.  (link)
More Pictures Here