Celebrating the Spring Festival with "Chairman Mao" at Shaoshan

On the sixth day of the Spring Festival, Xu ze, who works in Guangdong province, drove to Shaoshan to wish Chairman Mao a late happy new year. Together with his family, Xu presented a flower basket and bowed sincerely at the bronze statue of Mao Zedong.

"Mao is the founder of the new China and also an idol " said Xu. He thought that visiting the site during the Spring Festival had nothing to do with superstition but showed his sincere respect and blessing. He also wanted to be motivated by the martyrs' dedication for revolution in this holy place.

This year’s "Loong year" Spring Festival is especially important to many Chinese families. Visitors from around the globe swarm to Shaoshan for good fortune and to celebrate. Coming to Shaoshan for the festival celebration and to visit Chairman Mao has become a special event in China.

Since the lunar New Year’s Eve, the sounds of firecrackers from the Mao bronze status square have not stopped. The local villagers cook pork and lamb to show their thanks to Mao. The village leader Mao Yushi says, Chairman Mao liberated new China and thanks to him, the tourism and catering industry of Shaoshan has flourished, enriching the lives of the local people.

In Shaoshan village, nearly every family has Chairman Mao's picture. The street lights are shaped like shining stars which is a typical representation of Mao’s era.

MAOJIA restaurant, which is famous not only domestically but also overseas, belongs to 81 year old Tang Ruiren. "Thanks to Chairman Mao, we have this happy life ", said Tang. She hangs Mao's picture and puts bronze statues of him at every branch in the restaurant.

"I held my wedding ceremony at the bronze statue square, marrying my girlfriend in front of Chairman Mao. Now, I come here to celebrate the lunar New Year with my family and especially to wish a good fortune" said Mr. Zhu, 34 years old from Hangzou. "I never thought there would be so many people here today and that we’d have to wait in line to bow to the bronze statue", said Zhu.

The 20 year old Shaoshan fire fighter Gai haiqiang said "this year's Spring Festival is meaningful, for I can wish our Chairman a happy new year in his hometown. Although I can not spend the Festival with my parents, I still feel happy to celebrate it with my comrades."

According to official statistics, during the Spring Festival holiday, Shaoshan received 518,800 tourists. The tickets revenue accounts to 730,000 yuan and on the fourth day of the lunar new year, Shaoshan received 132,200 visitors, 17 percent up from the same time last year.