by Du Guodong

    BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- Several of Chairman Mao's relatives enjoyed a pilgrimage over the weekend to Yan'an, a sacred place in the Chinese revolution, to mark the 60th anniversary of New China.

    A gala event Back to Yan'an saw old cadres and descendents of Mao Zedong join together in interviews and three hours of performances and themed events across the vibrant city to celebrate both the past and present.

Three veteran revolutionaries gathering together in Yan'an.(Photo Source: Globaltimes) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Yan'an is the cradle of the People's Republic of China and Chairman Mao led the communists to live plainly and work hard and he cultivated the spirit of serving the people wholeheartedly, which is a great legacy even at present. As a relative of Mao's family, it is such a pleasure and honor to visit the place where Chairman Mao lived and worked for 13 years," Mao Xiaoqing, Mao Zedong's niece, told the Global Times.

    Mao Xiaoqing, a successful businesswoman, was a featured presenter at the event and shared her memories of her uncle with keen onlookers.

    "My uncle was a very nice and kind man; he was always ready to help and encourage me in my life and study when I was a small girl in middle school,"

    Mao Xiaoqing said. "He really left a lingering influence on me and taught me to work and live in a most humble way, trying not to be affected by the status as a descendent of Mao Zedong."

    Several elderly revolutionaries also shared their experience of working alongside Chairman Mao during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in the late 1930s. During that time Mao led the army against the invaders and left a legacy for his followers that remains to this day in the city.

    "The Yan'an spirit is such a precious legacy for contemporary people. It is a treasure and spirit exemplifi ed by Chairman Mao himself, we cannot part with it although we live a better life. Itis just like a beacon for followers and the Yan'an Spirit means endurance, persistence and to always have hope," explained Liu Changming, who was a staff officer in Yan'an during Mao's stay there.

    Back to Yan'an also saw several actors who have played Mao Zedong in various TV, fi lm and drama productions deliver action-packed performances to the delight of the crowds.

    Yan'an, in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, was the headquarters of the Communist Party of China from 1935-1948, serving as the endpoint of the Long March and as a military base against Japanese aggression. The city played an indispensable role in the formation of New China.

    (Source: Globaltimes)

Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC