Guangdong media began a belated campaign yesterday to commemorate the famous southern tour of Deng Xiaoping in 1992.
But the timing of the stories, which come weeks after the 20th anniversary of the late leader setting off on his trip, has raised eyebrows.
Some observers think the campaign is an attempt to boost the reform model of Guangdong party chief Wang Yang at a time when his chief rival, Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai, is embroiled in controversy.
But others say there are more benign reasons for the stories.
The Southern Metropolis News reported on its front page that a forum to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Deng's historic visit to southern China would be held in Shenzhen on Saturday. The paper plans a series of news features with the theme 'The Choice, 1992', starting today, reviewing the city's development over the past two decades.
The paper devoted no coverage to Deng's tour on January 18, widely regarded as its anniversary, the day he set off for Shenzhen from Wuhan in Hubei province .