Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (simplified Chinese: 毛主席纪念堂; traditional Chinese: 毛主席紀念堂; pinyin: Máo Zhǔxí Jìniàntáng), commonly known as the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong or the Mao Mausoleum, is the final resting place of Mao Zedong, chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943 and the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death in 1976.

Though Mao had been one of the first senior officials to sign the Proposal that all Central Leaders be Cremated after Death in November 1956, his body was embalmed and construction of a mausoleum began shortly after his death. The mausoleum is located in the middle of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the capital of China. It stands on the previous site of the Gate of China, the southern (main) gate of the Imperial City during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Mao's remains are on display for public viewing (though some claim this is a wax sculpture placed over the actual body). People line up for hundreds of meters every day to see the former chairman, many paying tribute to him with flowers that can be purchased at the entrance on the north side. The mausoleum is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from July 1st to August 31st) to both Chinese and foreign tourists. Admission is free and is staffed by honor guards. As with most mausoleums, strict rules are enforced for visitors which includes no talking, no smoking, no photography or videotaping Mao's casket or any place inside the building, as well as a dress code of all headgear being removed (for men) and no shorts or miniskirts worn.