Beijing Hotels as seen from the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

Since time immemorial, Beijing has been home to some of the country's most prominent figures, from heads of state to entertainers. These people have succeeded in turning this once rigid city into a more open and versatile metropolis that is always open to the changes that each year brings.

When tourists come to the city, they realize that a number of Beijing hotels are located within a few minutes' walk or ride from famous tourist spots and shopping havens.

Majority of these tourists come to Beijing to experience the true essence of the city. To see how the metropolis once was, a visit to the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong should be included. He was the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 and the Chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943.

Located right in the middle of the Tiananmen Square and close to a number of fabulous hotels in Beijing, the Mausoleum replaced the Gate of China, which was the southern (main) gate of the Imperial City during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The construction of the mausoleum was done shortly after Chairman Mao's death. Hua Guofeng supervised the mausoleum project and has his handwriting on the mausoleum's sign. Based on an issue of China Pictorial, the Chinese people designed and built the mausoleum. As a matter of fact, materials from all over the country were used, like granite from Sichuan Province, color pebbles from Nanjing, porcelain plates from Guangdong Province, and even rock samples from Mount Everest. The sand and rocks were also taken from the Taiwan Strait which showed China's dominance over the island. Interestingly, a mass of 700,000 people voluntarily helped to make the mausoleum.

Mao was famously known as the Great Helmsman. Inside the structure, his remains are on display for public viewing. He is enclosed in a crystal coffin fitted with Xenon lamps using the latest in fiber-optic technology. This gives a more life-like and a clearer visualization of Mao's skin.

Until today, citizens and visitors staying at numerous Beijing hotels line up for hundreds of meters just to pay respects to this world-famous person. Many Chinese pay tribute to him by offering flowers which can be rented at the entrance on the north side. If you want to treasure this experience, you can buy items at the souvenir shop located at the exit on the south side.

Truly, Mao Zedong still remains as an important person to the Chinese people. A better way to know more about their culture is by visiting this important landmark in the city. Going to this place is never a problem since majority of the hotels in Beijing can be located within a few minutes of the area. So come now and experience many wonders that China can show you!

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

E. Larson is a long-time expatriate in Beijing, China. He works closely with the Haige Hotel Beijing and many other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Haige Hotel Beijing here.

by: Efrenn Larson

Total views: 3 Word Count: 483 Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 Time: 1:53 PM - 0 comments

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