Slipping out by the rear exit of the city's Four Seasons Hotel and speeding away in a haze of blue lights, the President was shielded from coming face to face with Falun Gong and Falun Dafa demonstrators who had turned up, banners aloft, to draw attention to the plight of spiritual practitioners at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

"We want Xi to know Falun Dafa brings lots of benefits to people. We want him to know that the persecution of practitioners of Falun Dafa has to stop," said Sonia Song, 32, from Carlton.

As a student and Falun Dafa practitioner, she said she was forced to leave university in China before finishing her degree.

She, like scores of protesters, didn't catch of a glimpse of the man their banners targeted, but it was the message that counted.

"I've never seen Xi before, but the most important thing is that I need to make my effort for him to see Falun Dafa."

Their peaceful demonstration was outnumbered by a louder and more colourful horde of dancers, musicians and flag-waving youths who had turned out to welcome their leader, who flew in for his 24-hour visit on Tuesday evening, to the city.

Kirsty Chen, 22, from Zetland, applied to be part of the well-organised welcome party two weeks ago and underwent background checks before being approved.

"It's very exciting. I love my country, I wanted to see our president," said the student.

Despite not achieving that goal thanks to tightly-orchestrated security, she and her group remained undeterred. Like the protesters, they had settled in for the day, awaiting the president's afternoon return to the five star hotel for an Australia-China state and provincial leaders forum, where he and Prime Minister Tony Abbott will address members of both governments.

While the president met Mr Baird, his wife Madame Peng visited Ravenswood School for Girls where she met year 6 students, heard a choir performance and toured the UNSW Confucius classroom.