China - The Middle Kingdom 

Tiananmen Square
The Worlds Largest Public Square - 99 acres in size.  Western view Mao's mausoleum on the left, Monument to the People's Heroes in the Center of the square and the Great Hall of the People in the foreground. No protesting students, just tourists and the Red Army.
Let's Get This Party Started - The 16th Communist Party Congress was in session.  This historic event saw a changing of the guard, with Jiang Zemin stepping down and Hu Jintao elected as the new general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.  I wonder if he will have some great quotations like his predecessors. 
The Great Hall of the People - Every five years the Communist Party of China get together to have a National People's Congress to develop state policies with the usual 5 to 10 year plans, democratic centralism at work.
  
Two For One Special - The Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution.  There is a nice wax display of historical figures in Chinese history.  One surprise was finding a wax statue of Dr. Norman Bethune, but I recall that Mao respected and honoured him for his service to the Chinese people during the civil war. Chairman Mao made all of China recite 4 poems every day and one was "In the Memory of Norman Bethune".  Back in Canada it would "In the Memory of Norman who?" People of the World Unite! - Revolutionary memorial of the masses celebrating their victory over the Imperialist running dogs.  Maybe it can be converted to the welcoming of the Imperialist running dogs, now that China is part of the WTO.

 
The House of Mao - Mao Zedong Mausoleum - Opened for business since 1977, after the death of the Great Helmsman. Over 125 million visitors have come to pay their respects and homage to the People's Republic of China's founding father.  You can rent some plastic flowers for $2 and place it on his memorial, many faithful former Red Guardsmen and Women were doing this.  Four Red Army guards stand on guard inside the mausoleum, while the ushers only allow you a quick 10 second procession by his sarcophagus.  Mao is looking quite plastic, I think the wax statue of him in the Museum of Chinese History and Revolution looked better. Upon exiting you get to experience the Cult of Mao with several vendors lined around the outside hawking Mao paraphernalia from Mao's Little Red Book to Mao cigarettes.  I bought myself a Mao pocket watch, a bronze bust of Mao, and a Mao wind chime to keep those evil Imperial running dog spirits away. 
The Gate of Heavenly Peace - Tiananmen - In the background is the place where emperors would review the masses and make Imperial decrees. On October 1, 1949,  Chairman Mao announced to the Chinese people and to the world the foundation of the People's Republic of China and its victory over the Nationalists in China's civil war.  Mao has a permanent portrait to remind people of that historic event. 

The People's Phallic Symbol - The Monument of the People's Heroes was erected (sorry for the pun) in 1958 to honour past revolutionaries from 1851.  Mao has one of his quotes on this 124 ft obelisk "The People's Heroes are Immortal". Qianmen Gate - The front gate of Beijing's old city walls. It is one of 2 remaining gate towers. This is south of Mao's Mausoleum.

© 2002-2005 Stanley Yee