Op must have a different definition of "awe" inspiring, nothing about that was "awe" inspiring. The usual head of state reception dog and pony show. Not an Obama fan, but his reception was basically the same except indoors.
All the people posting about Xi's submissive and deferential behavior are clueless and haven't spent much time around Chinese. Everything they do is an act and calculated to show you what you want to see or what they want you to see. I've spent a lot of time around Chinsese, both professionally and in my family life, they're cunning and ruthless. It's a cultural thing.