Protesters greet China's President Xi Jingping in Canberra

Hundreds of protesters have greeted Chinese president Xi Jinping as he arrived in Canberra last night.

Competing groups of pro and anti-government protesters mingled and chanted slogans at each other outside the hotel where Mr Xi is staying.

The pro-regime group, mostly young people wearing red caps and carrying large Chinese flags, outnumbered the yellow-clad people protesting for justice for Falun Gong practitioners.

They banged drums and gongs and chanted slogans through loudhailers, watched by a heavy police presence.

Both sides were apparently peaceful, if noisy.

Fences erected outside the historic Hotel Canberra, next door to the Chinese embassy, were covered in red banners with Chinese slogans.

Police said the crowds had been outside the hotel throughout the day despite Mr Xi not flying down from the G20 summit in Brisbane until late in the evening.

There were more supporters and Falun Gong protesters waiting for Mr Xi at intersections near the airport.

Falun Gong supporters are expected to protest outside Parliament House and elsewhere across Canberra during Mr Xi's official visit on Monday.