Putin’s Shocking Beijing Moment Through The Eyes Of A 12-Year-Old? Chinese Man Recalls Viral Picture

A single moment in 2000 changed Peng Pai’s life forever. As a 12-year-old visiting Beijing’s Beihai Park, he was unexpectedly lifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to China. That brief encounter, caught in a now-viral photo, planted a lifelong fascination with Russia, shaping Peng’s studies, career, and worldview. Today, the boy in the photo is a senior engineer, still recalling the dazzling camera flashes and Putin’s unexpected kiss.