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In Mao's Hometown
Tuesday, July 12, 2005-9:19 PM
Chairman Mao grew up in Shaoshan, a sleepy little village in Hunan Province. After Mao took on rock-star status, his hometown became a major destination for pilgrims all around China.
It took around two hours and 20 renminbi to get to the city from Changsha. I went via the road less traveled by, a bus from the west, instead of the south, bus station.
I saw a sign that said Shaoshan was 5 km away. The bus slowed down. The ticket lady got my attention and told me to get off the bus,
I thought we were all going to Shaoshan. I thought that we would all get off the bus together, and then I would navigate my way through the city with the help of Chairman Mao statues that my guide book talked about so much.
Instead, I was standing by myself on some road with only a general idea where Shaoshan was. There were no Mao statues to guide me.
A couple guys quickly set me straight, and a few minutes later I was on a local bus to "The Village".
When we got off the bus, I made a big mistake. Instead of walking around by myself, I let a fellow passenger, who I thought was a tourist herself, convince me to go into the Mao Ze Dong Memorial Park.
The entrance fee was 45 renminbi and the lady who talked me into going was the tour guide. She guided me and a few other guys from Liaoning around the park.
There were all sorts of Mao shrines in the park. I was a little surprised to see how devoted my fellow travelers were to Mao Ze Dong.
Every time we came upon a shrine, they'd bow, burn incense, and even buy flowers to pay tribute to Mr. Mao.
Finally, after we left the park, the tour guide helped me find the village where Chairman Mao grew up.
That's what I came to see. It wasn't too exciting. But then again, I didn't expect it to be.
It was free to look around though. And that's what was important to me.
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