Journalists are kept at bay as crowds mourn Li Keqiang, who in death poses a challenge to Xi Jinping.

By Stephen McDonell in Anhui, China

“He was a great leader who has remained in our hearts,” says a man who has come to pay his respects to Li Keqiang, China’s popular former premier who died last week.

Flowers in hand, he and his son walk up to Li’s childhood home on Hongxing road in the city of Hefei. The footpaths are covered in a sea of flowers. Crowds of mourners have been gathering since the 68-year-old suddenly died in Shanghai of a heart attack.

“He visited our textile factory and it left a deep impression,” says the man. Li was from the same province as him, Anhui, he added: “It’s too sad. I can’t accept it.”

…