On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Mao Zedong Square was crowded with tourists, and the sound of firecrackers echoed through the clouds. Nearly 30,000 tourists from all over the country flocked to Shaoshan to pay tribute to the great achievements of the great man, explore the red history, and "celebrate the New Year" for Chairman Mao.
The majestic and solemn Mao Zedong Square was decorated with suspended color balls, lanterns, and fluttering red flags, filled with festive cheer and the atmosphere of the Spring Festival. Under the bronze statue of Comrade Mao Zedong, flower baskets were lined up row after row, with people bowing, paying tribute with flower baskets, taking photos as souvenirs, and setting off firecrackers. The crowd was bustling and continuous.
At 8:30 am, the municipal leaders of Shaoshan City arrived on time in front of the bronze statue of Chairman Mao to pay tribute with flower baskets and bow three times, deeply praying for a better tomorrow for Shaoshan.
Ms. Zhang from Changsha, Hunan said that since 2002, every New Year's Day, her entire family would drive to Shaoshan to celebrate the New Year for Chairman Mao. She told the reporter: "In recent years, Shaoshan has changed a lot, the Mao Zedong Square is more grandiose, transportation is more convenient, and the overall environment is cleaner and more orderly."
On this day, tourist attractions such as the Former Residence of Comrade Mao Zedong, the Memorial Hall of Comrade Mao Zedong, and the Relics Museum of Mao Zedong were also crowded with visitors. In the Relics Museum of Mao Zedong, Mr. Wang, who returned to his hometown in Hunan from Guangdong for the Spring Festival, told the reporter that after the Wu-Guang high-speed railway opened, it only takes over two hours from Guangzhou to Changsha, which is very convenient. He plans to bring his children to Shaoshan again specially later to pay tribute to Chairman Mao and receive patriotic education.
In the scenic area, the reporter saw that the staff of various departments including tourism, public security, traffic police, health, price control, and industry and commerce in Shaoshan City were all on duty to ensure the smoothness, safety, and orderliness of tourists. Despite the large number of vehicles and people in the scenic area, due to effective management and services, the tourism environment remained safe and orderly. According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau of Shaoshan City, the number of tourists visiting Shaoshan on the first day of the Chinese New Year reached 28,000.