Some moon samples collected by Chang'e-5 to be stored in Chairman Mao's hometown of Shaoshan to honor him

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China's Chang'e-5 moon probe makes Mao's 'wishes come true'​

TETSUSHI TAKAHASHI, Nikkei staff writer
December 4, 2020 17:23 JSTUpdated on December 18, 2020 15:24 JST

Wu Yanhua, deputy head of the China National Space Administration, told reporters on Thursday that "precious moon samples collected by Chang'e-5 will also be stored in Chairman Mao's hometown of Shaoshan, Hunan Province."

Mao once wrote a poem that read: "We can clasp the moon in the ninth heaven. And seize turtles deep down in the five seas. We'll return amid triumphant song and laughter." Wu explained that the lunar materials will be sent to Shaoshan "to make Chairman Mao's wishes come true."

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"We can clasp the moon in the ninth heaven. And seize turtles deep down in the five seas. We'll return amid triumphant song and laughter." Maozedong 可上九天揽月，可下五洋捉鳖，谈笑凯歌还。

2020 we made all those dreams come true for our late leaders. China's manned submersible “Fendouzhe” descended more than 10,000 meters and reached the lowest point on earth in Mariana Trench, China's spaceship Change-5 brought moon sample back to the earth from the space.

 

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Shaoshan, Mao's home village in the mountain is a tourist hotspot attracting thousands of visiters around the world every day paying tribute.

 

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Old people take time and kneel to pay tribute to Mao, police stop the crowds and only allow dozens to come close to the statue every couples of minutes to regulate the people flow.