Travel

The Red Gate, Beijing, China

Saturday 26th July 2008

We had visited the Forbidden City yesterday but the tour we were on was rushde and that coupled with the huge crowds just ruine the whole experience. I decided to get up early this morning an go back on my own - this turned out to be the best decision.

Chairman Mao was a Chinese revolutionary, political theorist and communist leader. He led the People's Republic of China (PRC) from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. His theoretical contribution to Marxism-Leninism, military strategies, and his brand of Communist policies are now collectively known as Maoism.

Mao remains a controversial figure to this day, with a contentious and ever-evolving legacy. He is officially held in high regard in China as a great revolutionary, political strategist, military mastermind, and savior of the nation. Many Chinese[quantify] also believe that through his policies, he laid the economic, technological and cultural foundations of modern China, transforming the country from an agrarian society into a major world power. His image can still be found everywhere in China from the walls of peoples homes to the public display outside of major landmarks.