Chairman Mao’s Former Residence in Shaoshan, Xiangtan
Attractions Overview: Chairman Mao’s Former Residence in Shaoshan
Attraction Type: Cultural
Chinese Name: 毛泽东同志故居
English Name: Chairman Mao’s Former Residence in Shaoshan
Best Time to Visit: All Year Round
Recommended Visiting Time: 2 Hours
Open Hours: 08:00-17:30; 16:30 stop entering
Admission Fee: Free
Address in English: Shaoshanchong, Shaoshan City, Xiangtan City
Address in Chinese: 湘潭市韶山市韶山冲
Why is Chairman Mao’s Former Residence So Special?
The former residence of Chairman Mao, covering an area of nearly 473 sq m (about 566 sq yd), is made of earth and wood. It is in a concave shape with 13 rooms. Here, you can see his family photos, daily essentials, farm tools and some revolutionary materials arranged in accordance with original layout when Mao Zedong was living there.
Where is Chairman Mao’s Former Residence?
Situated in the middle of Hunan Province, Shaoshan is 40 kilometers from Xiangtan City and about 120 kilometers from Changsha City, the capital of Hunan Province. And the residence lies about 50 km from Xiangtan Railway Station.
How to Get to Chairman Mao’s Former Residence?
Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Chairman Mao’s Former Residence with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.
Independent Travel
For independent travelers you can
By bus: Take bus no.17, 18, 149, 168, 312, 314, 315, 348, 405, 603, 704, or 902 to get off at Changsha West Bus Station. At this bus station, there are direct buses to Shaoshan.
What to See in Chairman Mao’s Former Residence
Bronze Statue Square
The bronze statue of Chairman Mao Zedong stands in Shaoshanchong Square, we also call it Bronze Statue Square, it is the center of Shaoshanchong. The bronze statue of the Chairman Mao is designed according to the image of him in the founding ceremony of China. The bronze statue is 6 meters high, the base is 4.1 meters high, the full height is 10.1 meters, and the bronze statue weighs 3.7 tons. It has been a unique tradition in Shaoshan for young couples to hold weddings and take their oaths before Mao’s bronze statue in the square. Families celebrating the Lunar New Year wish for good fortune before the statue, too.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
Set up in the year of 1963 and covering an area of 8,000 square metres, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is a good place for people to pay respect to the great Chairman Mao. The building is praised as a classical work in the modern garden buildings of China.
The Mao Zedong Relics Museum
The Mao Zedong Relics Museum is divided into three areas; a basic exhibition hall, a special topic exhibition hall, and a temporary hall. The main exhibits are the porcelains, discs and tapes he used and some art masterpieces.
Useful Travel Tips
- The rainy season starts from around April and ends around July, pay attention to the weather forecast.
- Smoking is not allowed in the scenic spot.
Nearby Attractions
- Shaoshan Peak, Xiangtan
- Water Dripping Cave in Shaoshan, Xiangtan
- Qingxi Scenic Area in Shaoshan, Xiangtan
Edited by Emily Wang/王海玲