I’m not proud of the fact that my history is sketchy and was completely unaware that Chairman Mao actually came through Moxi and stayed here. Mao commandeered a house owned by the Church next door when he and his troops came though Moxi on the Long March in 1935, and rested for two weeks. Mr. Wang found the guardian who opened this house that has now been turned into a paean to Mao with memorabilia in each room.

The Long March began Mao Zedong’s ascent to power and his leadership gained him the support of the members of the party. Mao began the bitter Long March in Jiangxi with 40,000 men and lost at least half on the way but the losses have also been estimated as high as 80%. This significant event in the Communist Party of China’s history would seal the prestige of Mao and his supporters as the new leaders of the party.

Moxi Ancient Town when Mao Zedong came through in 1935, China 

a young Mao Zedong, China
The ground level had historic photos on the walls ranging from members of the Communist Party, others who marched with Mao…View image, young Mao Zedong, maps showing different routes of the Long March and glass cases with Chairman Mao’s straw sandals and leg wrappings.

Mao Zedong’s straw sandals in Moxi, China
Upstairs…View image…was a dining room, bedrooms for Mao and his guard furnished sparsely, and one room where war conferences were held.

After this educational visit to Mao’s place of respite in Moxi, we wandered down a side street with traditional old houses where (video)…an elderly Chinese local standing in the street…View image… insisted we come in to visit his home and talk. (Actually, we talked and asked questions. Mr. Wang and Dondup translated.) This very nice and hospitable gentlemen was dressed in the old Chinese “Mao-style” hat and shirt that was worn by everyone during the Cultural Revolution and not seen on the younger generation. He insisted on showing us through every room in his traditional, immaculate house…View image. His wife, age 75 was in the kitchen cooking…View image, while he, age 78, was five years old when Mao came through but doesn’t remember meeting him.

Moxi local in Western Sichuan, China
We tried to offer a small money gift in thanks through Mr. Wang, but they refused to accept and this gracious couple waved us off down the street as we set out to discover a little bit more about Moxi.