In December alone, she attended a gala dinner in Hangzhou, walked the red carpet for a cosmetics company in Wuhan and signed copies of the Chinese edition of her book, A Woman Makes a Plan, which she described as "a bestseller" in China.

In fact, the only Musk-related book on the Chinese bestseller lists in October was a biography of her son Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson. Elon Musk is popular in China, and is thought to have the potential to wield pro-Beijing influence in the otherwise hawkish incoming administration of Donald Trump. But he has also faced scrutiny for his links to the US Department of Defense via his aerospace company, SpaceX.

Maye Musk, however, is adored in the country that she claims to visit "nearly every month". She has been described as his secret weapon in China – a well-placed figure who can bring goodwill for her son's increasingly global business and political ambitions.

And she has made her feelings about the country clear. "China is so advanced in roads, tunnels, buildings, infrastructure, and ports. Always impressed when I visit," she tweeted in October. In November, she posted pictures of Teslas in Shanghai, along with adoring heart-eye emojis.

The 76-year-old has a successful career as a model and a dietician. But her son's extensive business dealings in China – his car company, Tesla, has its biggest factory in Shanghai and he is a frequent visitor to the country – have opened the door to a new market of admirers who have welcomed her with open arms.

Her story is becoming increasingly well-known in China. Born in Canada and raised in South Africa, she has travelled around the world for her career and family.

Several commenters on Douban, a review website, praise her independence. "As a female role model who is independent, self-reliant and in control of her own life, she has gained rich experience under the influence of her family since she was a child. Because of her life experience in many countries, she is more tolerant of culture and life, and chooses to leave her comfort zone again and again," wrote one fan of her book.