Hu Chunhua (51), who is the party's top official in the southern province of Guangdong and a member of the Politburo, visited the Lakes District Museum and the Chinese miners' village in Arrowtown on Saturday morning.
He was accompanied by a 30 strong entourage that included police and diplomatic protection officers.
Museum director David Clarke showed Mr Chunhua exhibits focusing on the lives of the thousands of Chinese miners who worked on the Otago goldfields from the 1870s - most of whom came from Guangdong.
Mr Chunhua presented Mr Clarke with a stamp collection depicting the Silk Road.
He arrived in the country last Wednesday for a series of meetings, including with Prime Minister John Key, to foster trade and economic links.
He did not speak to the media during his visit.
