The Russian president launched into a piano performance ahead of his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Sunday.
Putin, who was in Beijing for a summit, played two Russian songs — Moscow Windows and Evening Song — dubbed the unofficial anthems of Moscow and St Petersburg.
Vladimir #Putin plays grand piano at Chinese leader’s residence https://t.co/JGcA19PcQA pic.twitter.com/1RNbsFwvwU— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 14, 2017
But Chinese social media users were far from impressed.
"This is such an amateur performance," said one user on social media platform Weibo.
"I suggest that he learns from our country's four-year-old pianists," another added.
"After listening to this, my son regained the confidence to play on the piano. Thank you Putin," one person said.
"Is it the song that sounds terrible or is it his playing?" someone asked.
"Did they forget to tune the piano?" another added.
But some people did at least give Putin props for playing.
"Putin, is there anything you can't do?" a user asked.
"[At least] he can play better than me," another chimed in.
This is not the first time Putin has showed off his musical prowess in public.
In 2011, he played the piano while on a tour of a theatre in Moscow.
The Russian president has in the past also showed off his other hobbies, ranging from hunting tigers to riding shirtless on a horse.
Putin was on a visit to Beijing for the country's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, an ambitious plan by China to create what the country calls a "modern Silk Road" that will link Asia to Europe.