Prince William arrived in China tonight for one of the most high-profile – and diplomatically sensitive – tours of his fledgling royal career. Following four successful days in Japan, the future king flew on to Beijing where he was greeted at the Norman Foster-designed Capital International Airport by British Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Britain's first female ambassador to the country. Also present was the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, and Ambassador Sun of The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Scroll down for video . The Duke of Cambridge arrives at Capital International Airport in Beijing, where he was greeted by Chinese delegates and the British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward (second from left) Walking through the VIP section after arriving on a schedule flight from Tokyo, the prince glanced at a display of cherry blossom, lanterns and a display dedicated to the new Chinese year, the Year of the Sheep. Stepping foot for the first time on Chinese soil, the second in line to the throne became the most senior member of the Royal family to visit the country since the Queen nearly 30 years ago. In truth, many had believed that William’s father, Prince Charles, would be the first to stake that claim. The Queen’s heir has been assiduously courting the Chinese in recent years on behalf of his charities, setting up a number of initiatives in the country, including The Prince’s Charities Foundation (China) and an organisation to preserve historic architecture. He has also met with several senior Communist party leaders in the UK. However he has also made no secret of his personal, and deeply held, opposition to Chinese actions in Tibet, regularly welcoming their exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama (reviled in Beijing as a dangerous separatist), to Clarence House. The pair have even been photographed holding hands. Prince William with the British Ambassador Barbara Woodward . After taking part in the formal handover of the former British Colony of Hong Kong in 1997 to China, Charles also memorably described the officials taking part in ceremony as ‘appalling old waxworks’. Two years later let it be known he was boycotting a Buckingham Palace banquet in honour of the then visiting president of China, Jiang Zemin. William’s grandfather, Prince Philip, also has form in the country. During the Queen’s 1986 visit to China he memorably caused enormous offence by telling a group of British students: ‘If you stay here much longer, you’ll all be slitty-eyed.’ Something of a herd of elephants in the room, then, for 32-year-old William to manoeuvre – and that’s even before he flies to the west of the country to visit China’s own dwindling band of wild Asian elephants and convince the locals to curb their demand for ivory and other illegal animals products. First, however, he will spend a morning in Beijing, visiting the exquisite Forbidden City – the ancient home of China’s deposed emperors - as well as a traditional Hutong, a traditional narrow alley unique to the country. He will also meet several senior Communist Party leaders, including, it is believed, the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang. With China on course to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy, the UK government is keen to foster positive diplomatic relationships - and William’s visit will be seen as part of that. Given the sensitivity of these meetings the prince – who is putting off becoming a full-time working royal for at least two years to work as an air ambulance pilot – will have to show both maturity and diplomatic dexterity. The royal is scheduled to visit the  Forbidden City – the ancient home of China’s deposed emperors (Pictured: William with Barbara Woodward) He will no doubt be grateful for the assured presence of the Queen’s favourite diplomat, Sir David Manning, who has accompanied him to the Far East at her request. Later on Monday he will fly to Shanghai to embark on a concerted push to promote British business and culture when he opens the Government’s GREAT festival of Creativity at the city’s Long Museum. The festival is designed to showcase British innovation and creativity in everything from fashion to health, technology, education and entertainment. He will even attend the premiere of home-grown success story Paddington, although William will be too busy to see the actual film. It’s a packed programme and while there is palpable disappointment that the prince’s wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, had been forced to remain at home due to the advanced stage of her second pregnancy, William has made the right noises so far, it seems. Earlier in the day the Prince was in northern Japan, where he was greeted by Chine-style lions . Thousands of well wishers lined the streets during his visit to the Chime of Hope Shopping Centre in Onagawa, northern Japan earlier today . In Japan he even threw his usual caution to the wind and was persuaded to don a Samurai outfit – although drew the line at a ponytailed wig. Earlier today he looked delighted to be greet by a traditional Lion Dance as he visited the north-eastern city of Ishinomaki, which was devastated by a tsunami in 2011, which killed some 19,000 people. William placed a bouquet at a hilltop shrine and was mobbed by wellwishers, taken aback by the prince’s willingness to interact, in stark comparison with the rather staid nature of their own Imperial family. William placed a bouquet at a hilltop shrine for the victims of March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki, Japan . Prince William took a moment to remember the victims of the tsunami at the hilltop shrine .
Prince William is visiting China for the first time . While there, the royal will take a tour of Forbidden City and visit a Hutong . He will also meet several senior Communist Party leaders during the trip . The Chinese tour is one of the most diplomatically sensitive of his career .