'Long live Chairman Mao': Supporters pay respects to founder of Communist China

SHAOSHAN, China: In his hometown, a large crowd of devoted fans gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to the late Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. Holding portraits, flags, and floral tributes, the supporters marked the 50th anniversary of Mao's passing on September 9, 1976. As China grapples with an economic slowdown, there is a growing nostalgia for Mao's egalitarian ideals, although his policies are also criticized for causing mass starvation and millions of deaths.

Tourists, primarily university students, laid chrysanthemum wreaths, bottles of alcohol, and cigarettes at the base of a 10-meter-tall bronze statue of Mao in the main square.

Hundreds of visitors lined up to bow and observe a moment of silence, while some posed for photos in front of the statue. Police ensured that people did not linger for too long. A 28-year-old tourist named Deng expressed his respect for Mao's spirit, saying that he felt inspired to visit on this significant occasion. The night before, around 1,000 ardent admirers, some dressed in Mao's signature tunic-style suits, held an emotional ceremony at the statue, displaying relics of Mao's era and singing revolutionary songs.

Reminders of Mao are scattered throughout the otherwise unremarkable village of Shaoshan, transformed by the state media into a red tourism hotspot. Visitors queued up to enter Mao's childhood home, with 63-year-old Jing Shiming, who visited from Shanghai, emphasizing the importance of never forgetting the people who contributed to the village's development. Mao and leaders from his generation are credited with transforming China from an impoverished nation into a powerful and prosperous country.

Despite the controversy surrounding his legacy, Mao remains an emblematic figure for the Chinese Communist Party. His image appears on banknotes, and his portrait graces Tiananmen Square in Beijing. In Shaoshan, souvenir stores sold a plethora of Mao-related merchandise, including badges, bronze figurines, caps, and T-shirts. Shop owner Ouyang Qianli expressed her joy at seeing people from across China pay homage to "Grandpa Mao," praising his selflessness and groundbreaking efforts for China.