"Changsha is located in northern Hunan Province and is the provincial capital. I thought it was a most ugly city with dark grey buildings that all looked very shabby and neglected. But the city was not what we had been brought to see. Changsha's claim to fame was that it had been the boyh7home of Chairman Mao Zedong, who, at the time of our visit, was still alive and commanding a strong cult following. Our 4 local guides seemed determined that during our two day stay oin the city we should see and learn as much about the great man's life as was possible.
 
Maos birth place in Shaoshan village was a two hour drive from Changsha through attractive countryside. In the village, apart from the over restored farm house where Mao was born, there was a museum telling in detail the story of the great march of 1934-5 and on to the communist eventual triumph to power in 1949. Both were very busy with visitors, and though like in other places of tourist interest at that time, as foreign guests, we were taken to the front of the queue. I soon decided that I could do better things with my time, so after a quick look around I slipped away to enjoy a couple of hours exploring, sketching and painting the nearby delightfully picturesque countryside." -MH