First ladies Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan show sky is the limit in improving relations

The assertion by Mao Zedong that women hold up half the sky is often quoted in China. It speaks of the respect due to the work and role played by women in all areas of society.

Mao's words seemed even more pertinent over the past week after the visit to China by the US first lady Michelle Obama. In a matter of days, she did more to improve Sino-US relations than countless, often male, politicians despatched from Washington in recent years.

In Chinese culture there is an ambivalent attitude towards women's involvement in politics; Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang dynasty (618-907) and Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) are two of the more infamous rulers in China's history.

But if social media is any guide, Obama and her Chinese counterpart Peng Liyuan have completely won hearts and minds with their brand of soft diplomacy.

Both enjoyed successful careers before coming first ladies and appear to have gained both the respect and affection of much of the public. Obama made it clear before her arrival that her trip to China would focus on education and cultural exchanges and she would steer clear of the hard issues of politics.

Obama chose to visit landmarks including the former imperial palace the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xian. She took time with her family to feed apples to pandas at the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, took part in a tai chi session and also played table tennis with a student.