When Hu Jintao became president of China in 2003, very little was known about this enigmatic man. This biography helps unravel the mystery surrounding Jintao by exploring his rise from humble engineering student to powerful leader of the world's most populous country, and discussing what his rule means to the future of China and the world.

When Hu Jintao became president of China in 2003, very little was known about this enigmatic man. The son of a man who fell victim to China's tumultuous Cultural Revolution, Jintao began his Communist Party career in some of China's poorest and most remote provinces before getting his first big breaks in Beijing. As president, he has impressed many with his ability to maintain order and stability in China, but he has angered others with his lack of concern for human rights. This in-depth, full-color biography helps unravel the mystery surrounding Jintao by exploring his rise from humble engineering student to powerful leader of the world's most populous country, and discussing what his rule means to the future of China and the world.