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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Asia
- China
- Beijing
- Chairman Mao Mausoleum
Chairman Mao Mausoleum
Although Chairman Mao Zedong requested to be cremated it was
decided hours after his death in 1976, that he would be embalmed.
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
from 1945 until his death, it is said that after his death doctors
reportedly pumped him so full of formaldehyde that his body swelled
excessively. After draining the corpse and getting it back to a
suitable state, they created a wax model of Mao Zedong, lest his
body wouldn't recuperate. It is unknown today, which version of the
Great Helmsman is on display at the Mausoleum at any given time.
The Mausoleum itself was built in 1977, on the prior site of the
Gate of China, the main gate of the Imperial City during the Ming
and Qing dynasties. People visiting the Mausoleum line up for
hundreds of feet, and visitors can hire flowers at the
entrance.
Information & Facts
Address
South end of Tiananmen Square
Admission
Language
The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but there are
hundreds of local dialects.
Money
The currency used in China is the Renminbi Yuan (CNY). The Yuan
is divided into 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Make sure you exchange
your leftover Yuan before returning home because this currency can
be exchanged only within China's borders. Travellers cheques,
preferably in US Dollars, and foreign cash can be exchanged in
cities at the Bank of China. Banks are closed weekends. The larger
hotels and the special 'Friendship Stores' designed for foreigners
will accept most western currencies for purchases. Major credit
cards are accepted in the main cities at various establishments,
but outside the major cities acceptance is limited. ATMs are scarce
outside the main cities.
Time