BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao spent the International Children's Day on Friday building with toy bricks and playing games on the outskirts of Beijing.

Hu, accompanied by a group of high-ranking officials, visited a kindergarten and a primary school at a small town of the Daxing District in southern Beijing, which mainly take in children of nearby farmers and migrant workers.

Hu joined the children in playing with toy bricks at the kindergarten and played basketball and rope skipping with students at the school.

The president also visited the school's art classrooms, where students were making clay sculptures and drawing or carving pictures on bottle gourds.

Hu visited the school's experimental farm, where students learned to plant vegetables, raise homing pigeons, peacocks and rabbits.

Encouraging the students to participate more in such activities, Hu planted two tomato seedlings.

Hu told the children that he was impressed by their extracurricular activities and hoped they could make good use of their school time and grow up to be knowledgeable, honest and healthy.

The president also visited the teachers of the school to extend his respect and appreciation for their dedication to rural education.