Hu, who works in PR, doesn't think the Lunar New Year will be any less enjoyable this year because of the campaigns to reduce waste and fireworks.

NPR: Leaner New Year: China Tones Down The Celebrations

Zhu "knows the trip won't be easy, but he is amazingly calm, " says Fred Hu, head of Asia Economic Research for Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong.

CNN: Red star

"Zhu said he knows the trip won't be easy, but he is amazingly calm, " says Fred Hu, head of Asia economic research for Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong and a former student of Zhu's at Qinghua.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia