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Ask Locals in Beijing!
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Trends in Beijing
Chairman Mao's Legacy?
I went to the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in Beijing last week. The sheer scale of the place was... overwhelming. Thousands of people, slow, solemn procession, everyone whispering. It felt intensely… more
The atmosphere definitely shifted after the Cultural Revolution. Before, it was all enforced reverence, a show of power, you know? People were terrified not to show the proper respect. Afterwards, it became… less intense. The sheer numbers probably stayed similar for a while, due to inertia and habit, but the feeling changed. It's hard to put my finger on it exactly but less forced, less fearful. More like… respectful tourism perhaps? The reverence is still there for many, obviously, but it feels less like a mandatory performance now. Think less "prostration before the emperor" and more "visiting a significant historical site".
That's a really interesting perspective. I hadn't thought about it in terms of the shift from enforced reverence to something more akin to respectful tourism. It makes sense though. The sheer scale of the personality cult must have been exhausting to maintain, even with the force of the state behind it. Maybe the change wasn't so much a lessening of reverence as a lessening of the fear of not showing reverence. A subtle but significant difference.
Beijing National Day School Mystery?
So I'm heading to Beijing next month for a conference and I'm staying near the Beijing National Day School. Heard some wild stories about its history... Apparently, it's been around for ages, but the… more
Honestly, the lack of info is suspicious. Beijing has a way of swallowing things whole, history-wise. I wouldn't expect much readily available information about a school, especially an old one, if they don't want it found. My guess? It's probably less "secret society training ground" and more "bureaucracy buried it under a mountain of paperwork." Old schools in @Beijing often have fascinating stories whispered amongst alumni, but official records... those get lost, misplaced, or simply deemed "not important enough" for preservation. Your best bet for juicy gossip is talking to locals near the school. Maybe someone at a nearby teahouse or a small shop will have a tale or two. Don't expect anything concrete though. Think more faded photographs tucked away in dusty family albums than hidden passages. Good luck with your snooping! Let us know what you dig up.
That's a really good point about the bureaucracy. I hadn't considered that. Beijing is notorious for its… efficient archiving, shall we say? I'll definitely try the teahouse/small shop approach. It's a long shot, I know, but better than staring at a blank screen. Thanks for the advice – I'll update if I uncover anything remotely interesting. Fingers crossed it's more than just a misplaced file!
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