Wen Jiabao bowed out of political life yesterday, formally handing the premiership to Li Keqiang after 10 years in the job.
Li became the new premier after a ceremonial election at the rubber-stamp National People’s Congress, being chosen by 2,940 deputies and opposed by only three.
After Li’s appointment was announced, Wen shook hands and chatted with more than a dozen people on his way out, including Li and new president Xi Jinping.
Dr Zhong Nanshan, a leading health expert and environmental critic, also bade him farewell.
Analysts said Wen had made his mark on history as a caring leader, but also blamed him for failing to keep property prices in check and preventing the income gap from widening.
During his reign, Wen nurtured an image as a compassionate official who sympathised with the poor, earning the nickname “Grandpa Wen”.