From Danwei (link):
Last year’s publication of a controversial biography by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday and a proposal at this year’s NPC that he be removed from China’s currency have suggested that Mao Zedong may be falling out of favor with some. Whether being accused of atrocities during his tenure as China’s leader or being snubbed in favor of Deng Xiaoping, Mao’s image has taken a few hits recently.
Fortunately, the Chairman still has some fans. Mike Tyson took time out of a trip to Shanghai to fly up to Beijing and pay a visit to the Chairman’s mausoleum (mao-soleum?) on Tian’anmen Square Saturday. Xinhua reports:
“Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson had originally planned only to visit Shanghai, but unexpectedly arrived in Beijing on April 1, visiting the Chairman Mao Memorial Mausoleum to pay his respects to the great man whom he has admired his whole life.
At the conclusion of his trip to Beijing, Tyson said, ‘In front of Chairman Mao’s body, I felt very small. It is an incomparably great honor to be able to visit his mausoleum. I hope that soon I will be able to return to China and have a match here.'”
See also “Mike Tyson pays respects to Mao” from the BBC.
