Mark MacKinnon and John Lehmann discover that in Shaoshan, Mao Zedong is Mao the devout Communist, Mao the great military leader, Mao the poet, Mao the dutiful son. Left out entirely is Mao the madman whose ideological campaigns led to the deaths of tens of millions of Chinese and the impoverishment of the entire country.
Mao Zedong memorabilia for sale in Mao's Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Mao Zedong memorabilia for sale in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Pilgrimages at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Pilgrimages snap photos at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
People’s Armed Police salute during a flower placing ceremony at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
People's Armed Police and Mao devotees during a flower placing ceremony at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
A cleaner sweeps up before a flower placing ceremony at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao's Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
People's Armed Police and Mao devotes during a flower placing ceremony at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao's Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Flowers are taken away at the end of the day from the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao's Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
A Mao devote pays her respects at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Police stand guard at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao's Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
A Mao devote pays her respects at the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
Flowers are taken away at the end of the day from the Mao Zedong memorial in Mao’s Home Town of Shaoshan, China January 12, 2013. (John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail)
to get it and come back to see the ad in front of this gallery.
