China's First Lady Peng Liyuan Steals Limelight

The Chinese President's first foreign trip as leader is causing plenty of chatter on Chinese social media but not for the reasons you might expect.

Xi Jinping has a very famous wife. Her name is Peng Liyuan. She is a singer and household name in China.

Ever since President Xi took the first step to becoming leader last November, there has been considerable speculation and excitement over the prospect of a glamorous 'first lady' for the country.

Would she accompany him on trips? Would she be permitted to represent her country alongside her husband? And of course, what would she wear?

All was revealed as she stepped from the plane alongside her husband in Moscow this morning. It was one of the few times anyone has seen her for months and cyberspace went into overdrive.

Within 30 minutes of the photo on the tarmac in Moscow being taken, China’s version of twitter, Weibo, was full of comments.

"Thumbs up … nothing more to say," posted one user.

"Natural beauty … she will be very well received," wrote another.

"She is the most beautiful mother of the nation in history!" gushed a third blogger.

On Taobao, an online shopping site, users were directing people to coats and handbags similar to those chosen by Peng Liyuan for her Russian trip.

According to one post - written within 45 minutes of the official Moscow arrival photo being taken - a replica of her coat can be bought for RMB499 (£50).

Her handbag, according to another post, will set fans back a little more.

The frantic rush to replicate Peng Liyuan's look is a clear endorsement of her as China's first lady.

Her predecessors, the wives of former presidents Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, never managed the same status. As if to make the point, one user on Weibo posted an image of the three women side-by-side. The difference is stark.

It has, it seems, taken just hours for China to accept its new glamorous first lady.