Tassie devils, unruly journos greet Xi

President Xi Jinping has encountered Tasmanian devils, school children and an unruly Chinese media pack on his arrival in Tasmania.

After touching down at Hobart Airport on Tuesday morning the president and his wife Peng Liyuan were scheduled to spend some six hours in the city, including lunch and an outing with Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Shortly after the couple's arrival police reinforcements were called to Government House in Hobart because Chinese media at the airport had disobeyed security instructions.

The place was crawling with suited security when Mr Xi and Ms Peng arrived courtesy of a green-light corridor to the city under the watchful eye of a hovering helicopter.

At Government House the swarming Chinese media scrum continued to ignore the directions of Tasmania Police.

"Chinese security are dealing with it," Inspector Doug Rossiter said, calling off his officers who had started to manhandle some of the media representatives.

The sideline fuss didn't seem to bother Mr Xi and Ms Peng who were greeted by Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman and acting Tasmanian governor Alan Blow.

The president chatted with school students from Launceston before potting a magnolia tree.

Scotch Oakburn College Year 5 student Lucy Chesterman, 11, helped Mr Xi with the planting.

"He was very nice and even though he wasn't speaking English he looked us in the eyes and connected with us," Lucy told AAP.

Wearing a baby blue knee-length overcoat Ms Peng looked thrilled to meet six-month-old Tasmanian devil triplets Lulu, Bella and Possum.

The Chinese first lady cuddled Lulu who was wrapped in a small blanket and posed for photos.

The couple then disappeared inside Government House for lunch, which is understood to include local seafood, beef, quail, golden delicious apples, whiskey and other Tasmanian produce.

The president is reportedly meeting with Mr Abbott on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Xi's visit to Hobart is expected to provide valuable exposure for Tasmania.

China is already the state's number one international tourist market and is worth some $600 million in annual exports.