Mao Zedong

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

True men on China’s Great Wall
Xi Jinping cultivates a veritable cult around China's Great Wall. Yet Mao Zedong considered the ancient structure to be a feudal relic. But that did not stop him from creating a ritual: Foreign dignitaries on a visit to Beijing outdo each other with the length of their walks along the monument. continue reading →
There is no ‘end of history’ for Beijing
Beijing's approach to its own history is always worth a special look. After all, transparency is not a strong suit here either. In 2006, however, China's Foreign Ministry published a book on declassified documents for the first time. A second volume never came out. Thus, other documents have to serve as a reminder of history. continue reading →
Hong Kong’s papal bridge builder
After a three-year search, the Vatican has found a new bishop for Hong Kong in Stephen Chow Sau-yan. The 62-year-old Jesuit is to broker between the fronts and prevent Christians in Hong Kong from suffering the same fate as the believers on the mainland. continue reading →
Beijing’s imperial heritage
At the Yingtai Pavilion, part of the old Beijing Imperial Palace, the lines of history cross in an unlikely fashion. It was in the setting of imperial splendor that Communist autocrat Mao met with Pu Yi, the deposed last emperor. Recently, Xi Jinping used the same location for a special meeting. And he spared no imperial symbolism for himself. continue reading →
‘We always have to come up with something new in China’
In today's CEO Talk, Kempinski manager Ilja Poepper talks about how to operate luxury hotels during the pandemic and in China's booming hotel market. The key for success are the preferences of the new generation of young Chinese customers: Influencers on social media are pivotal for marketing. Frank Sieren spoke with Poepper. continue reading →
The Song of the Liangjiahe River
Xi is copying Mao: Following the example of a well-known hymn to the former Great Chairman, the new leader is also being given a ballad that praises his deeds. While the cult of personality is becoming increasingly grotesque, there is also growing resistance within the party. continue reading →
Reactions to power expansion: ‘Xi forces us into systems competition’
Where the People's Republic's journey in world history will lead is not decided in Beijing alone – geopolitical developments, economic competition, and disruptive fires such as pandemics weave the coordinate network of the future global balance of power. But who is at the helm in Beijing when it comes to the direction of policy in the years ahead is no longer in doubt since the 6th Plenum. How is Xi's expansion of power viewed in the West? continue reading →
The 6th plenum will be a historical one for Xi
The 6th plenum of the current Central Committee will convene in Beijing next week. Under normal circumstances of the post-reform era, this would herald the end of Xi Jinping's term in office. But the latter dares to break with Deng Xiaoping and wants to anchor himself even more firmly as the "core of the CP". He also wants to lift himself even further up the all-time list of the historic party hierarchy: above Deng, next to Mao. continue reading →
The Red Flag plans to conquer Europe
Luxury carmaker FAW wants to turn the patriotic luxury brand Hongqi into China's first global EV export hit. The selling point of models like the S9 and L5 is primarily their rarity. However, it is still a ways off from the Chinese S-Class. continue reading →