President Xi Jinping and other senior officials receive the late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin’s remains at Beijing’s Xijiao Airport, which were transported from Shanghai aboard a special flight on Thursday afternoon. Photo: Li Xueren/Xinhua

A 12-person honor guard carries Jiang’s casket from the aircraft. The remains were escorted by Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, and Jiang’s relatives, among others. Photo: Li Xueren/Xinhua

An honor guard carries the remains of Jiang, who died at 96 in Shanghai on Wednesday. Photo: Xie Huanchi/Xinhua

Shanghai residents line the streets to pay tribute to Jiang as the hearse makes its way from Huadong Hospital to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Thursday. Photo: Wang Xiang/Xinhua

Citizens with white flowers pinned to their chests mourn the former leader on the street Thursday in Shanghai. Photo: Ding Ting/Xinhua

The remains of Jiang arrived in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua

The national flag flies at half-staff Thursday at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mourn Jiang. Photo: Cai Yang/Xinhua

The national flag flies at half-staff Thursday in front of the Great Hall of the People. Jiang’s memorial meeting will be held there on Tuesday, during which all public entertainment activities will be suspended. The memorial service will be broadcast live across the country. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Members of the U.N. Security Council observed a minute of silence Wednesday in memory of Jiang. Photo: United Nations