These unusual pictures and information left netizens wondering if the Study Xi microblog was run by someone with a government background, or even someone close to Xi.

Coming to the surface

In response to public speculation, Zhang issued a statement on February 5 saying that he is an ordinary person, not a CPC member or official, nor is he connected with Xi in any way.

On February 9, the Associated Press (AP) published an interview with Zhang, which unveiled his identity as a young migrant worker.

Zhang told the AP that he is "a genuine fan of China's new leader and intent on making him more accessible to the people."

"Our leaders used to appear to be out of reach for the masses. They always appeared to be mysterious. Now the public can feel closer to their leader with timely and transparent information," Zhang told the AP.

Zhang subsequently accepted interviews from domestic media outlets such as Western China Cosmopolitan Daily and Chengdu Business Daily, both based in Sichuan.

More details about Zhang were disclosed. Zhang, 28, dropped out of college in Sichuan in 2008. Currently, he works as an interior decorator in Wuxi, eastern Jiangsu Province.

Zhang told the media that he ran his microblog from a rented room and released a picture showing his room furnished only with a desk, a bed, a laptop and an electric heater.

Zhang said that he had not personally photographed Xi. Instead, they were collected from other online sources or sent by netizens.

Some snapshots on Xi's recent trip to Gansu, Zhang said, were originally published by Daxibeiwang.com, an Internet portal on northwest China.

When Xi visited Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, Zhang contacted a local reporter, soliciting information and photos about Xi's activities during the tour, said an unidentified media professional.

Zhang also unraveled the mystery about how he got Xi's itinerary before his visit to Donghaochong of Guangzhou. He said that he got the clue from a local reporter's microblog post, and guessed the arrival time to be five minutes later.

Since gaining publicity, people have voluntarily provided Zhang with materials. For instance, a netizen named Chen Qiang forwarded a picture he took of Xi in 1990 when Chen reported for Fujian Daily. Zhang said that he got some of Xi's old pictures from a retired guard of Zhongnanhai, where top Chinese leaders reside and work.

Making a difference

In addition to Study Xi, several other microblog accounts featuring top leaders have also been launched.

The Weibo account Xianglixuexi, or Learning from Li, opened in early February, releasing information about Vice Premier Li Keqiang, including his handwriting samples, personal photos and a cover of the latest book authored by his wife Cheng Hong, a professor of English literature at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing. An account by the same name has also appeared in Xinhua's microblog recently.

Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told Beijing Times that the emergence of social media fan clubs shows public approval of the leaders and their political ideas and reform measures.

After assuming the top Party post, Xi has called on the nation to reject extravagance and reduce bureaucracy.

China Agricultural University recently conducted a survey in cities of various sizes and approximated that eateries discard enough food to feed 200 million people every year.

In response to Xi's call for frugality, the country has launched a campaign to curb "waste at the tip of the tongue." The measure is popular with the public who are dissatisfied with officials squandering public money on lavish feasts.

In addition, Wang said the microblogs offer a more accessible, non-official channel for disclosing information that may be unsuitable for official news releases, which enable the public to know their leaders better.

Zhang Zhi'an, an associate professor at the School of Communication and Design of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, believes the fan microblogs can boost leaders' public recognition and inspire official media to reform their means of communication. In the meantime, Zhang suggests that these microblogs be more responsible, and at least label the sources of their information.

Email us at: wanghairong@bjreview.com