"One thing I wished most at the time was to make it possible for the villagers to have meat and have it often," said Xi in a speech in Seattle, the United States, on Sept. 22, 2015, when he recalled his early days in Liangjiahe.

Today, for hundreds of millions across the country, meat is no longer a luxury as China has made decisive progress in ending absolute poverty.

Understanding what people eat is an important part of Xi's inspection tours across the country. It has given him insight into how people really live.

During an inspection of Shaanxi in April 2020, Xi walked into Xi'an Restaurant on a commercial street and saw diners feasting on Shaanxi's signature dishes. "These are all the tastes of my hometown," he said.

"As the Chinese saying goes, food is the first necessity of the people. We feel that the general secretary really cares about people's livelihood, and loves his hometown," said Xu Haijun, executive chef of Xi'an Restaurant.