It's dinnertime in China, the evening news has just aired, and primetime TV-watchers are settling down for the real entertainment of the night. "Let's listen to President Xi's speeches and comprehend his thought," enthusiastically declares the host of a game show called, yes, "Studying Xi in the New Era". The "Xi" - in this instance - is a reference to China's leader Xi Jinping who has steadily tightened his grip over the state. Just one year ago "Xi Jinping thought" - an articulation of his political philosophy - was enshrined in the constitution of the Chinese Communist Party. Nothing like that has happened in a very long time.

Now it's moved onto Hunan TV, China's most popular entertainment channel aimed at young people, which means that it's clearly time to ensure China's Generation Z and millennials are on board. It takes the form of two rounds of quizzes and a short speech about Communist Party theories and Xi's thought, as well as a few questions thrown in about Mr Xi's personal experiences on his way to the top.

"President Xi, at the age of 15, was sent from Beijing to Liangjiahe in Shaanxi province to become a farmer. During that period of time, he was eager to acquire knowledge. He even walked 15km (9 miles) to borrow a book. What's the name of it?" fired off the host. One contestant fired back with "Faustus" - no hesitation whatsoever. "Congratulations. That's correct," said the host to polite applause from the studio audience. The host then read a poem Xi wrote when he was the secretary of Fuzhou city's Communist Party in the 1990s, and asked: "Who does this poem commemorate?"

"Jiao Yulu" shot back the answer. Correct. Once again the contestant immediately knew Xi had once penned an ode to commemorate a dedicated party cadre in China. "What theory is great theory?" was a question asked by Ai Silin, who is president of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University and invited onto the show as an expert.

"It must be a scientific theory for the people. Nowadays, it must be Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," said another contestant who won praise for his perfect answer. The game show also plays excerpts of Xi Jinping's speeches or interviews, which are regarded as "golden quotes", and the participants need to finish Xi's sentences or answer related questions. Xi Jinping said in a speech, "Marxism is very profound, but essentially it can be summarised by one sentence…"