Growing Nostalgia for Mao Zedong in China 50 Years After His Death

Fifty years after the death of Mao Zedong on September 9, 1976, a sense of nostalgia for the egalitarian ideals of the former leader is growing among some people in China. This trend is particularly evident among young people who are frustrated by intense competition in the job market and education, as well as by long working hours. In places like Nanjie, known as the last Maoist village, residents continue to live by principles of collective property, while tourists in Dazhai visit sites promoted by Mao as national models. Some observers suggest that the Cultural Revolution is now perceived by some as a period of idealism driven by goals other than the pursuit of material wealth.

Despite this nostalgia, the historical record of Mao's rule remains deeply contradictory. While the Communist Party of China maintains his status as a revolutionary hero, it has acknowledged that the Cultural Revolution was a grave error. Mao's policies led to the brutal persecution of intellectuals and the closure of schools. His economic management also resulted in the Great Famine; while the government states 15 million people died, historians estimate the toll between 20 and 43 million. Under President Xi Jinping, public debate has been further restricted to prevent historical nihilism, which refers to narratives that contradict the official party line.

Contemporary expressions of Mao's legacy range from his image on currency and his preserved body in a mausoleum to the sale of souvenirs such as the Little Red Book. One former ANSA correspondent recalls the atmosphere in Beijing following Mao's death, describing a city paralyzed by silence and a power struggle between conservatives and progressists.