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

Fifty years after his death, enthusiastic supporters of the late Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong gathered in his hometown to pay their respects on September 9, 2026. The day marked the 50th anniversary of Mao's passing, and many who still revered him as a visionary leader commemorated his life and legacy. The celebration took place in Shaoshan, a small village in central Hunan province, where Mao was born in December 1893.

His bronze statue stood proudly in the main square, 10 meters tall, and served as the focal point for the tributes.

Visitors lined up in organized queues to pay their homage, observing a few seconds of silence and laying floral tributes at the statue's base. Some offered bottles of Chinese alcohol and cigarettes, while others posed for photographs in front of the monument. Police ensured that the crowds remained orderly, discouraging prolonged visits.

Among the visitors was Deng, a 28-year-old tourist who credited Mao's spirit for influencing him and expressed his deep respect for the former leader. "I suddenly felt like coming here today to commemorate him, because the 50th anniversary is something that only comes around once in a lifetime," Deng said.

Before the main event, around 1,000 devoted admirers held an emotional ceremony at the statue. They carried relics of the past, including old portraits of Mao and copies of the "Little Red Book," a collection of his famous quotations that once dominated Chinese households. The group chanted "Long live Chairman Mao!" repeatedly, some pumping their fists in the air while singing revolutionary songs.

Shaoshan has become a popular destination for "red tourism," part of Beijing's strategy to attract tourists interested in China's communist history. The village, once considered obscure, has been promoted as a spot where visitors can experience the country's communist past. Tourists formed long queues to enter Mao's childhood home, which overlooked rice paddies that a sign claimed he had helped cultivate during his youth.

Visitors such as 63-year-old Jing Shiming from Shanghai expressed their commitment to remembering Mao and leaders from his generation. "We must never forget the people who dug the well from which we drink," Jing stated. He and others believed that Mao and his contemporaries transformed China from a backward and impoverished nation into the prosperous and strong nation it is today. Despite the mixed views on Mao's legacy, the fervent tributes demonstrated the enduring admiration for the founder of Communist China.