Thursday, August 13, 2026, 9:00 AM. The sky over Shaoshan gently weeps over the rolling hills of Hunan Province. A light rain, carried by a gentle, cool breeze, envelops the mountains in an almost solemn veil. Far from deterring visitors, this weather seems to deepen the solemnity of the thousands who have come to pay their respects to Chairman Mao Zedong (1893-1976) . We are in the heart of the cradle of the Chinese revolution.

Beneath a sea of ​​umbrellas, families, schoolchildren, and foreign delegations converge on Mao Zedong Square. In the center of the vast esplanade stands a six-meter-high bronze statue. Dressed in his Zhongshan attire, his face slightly smiling, the " father of modern China " seems to observe the crowd moving forward in silence.

Suddenly, the click-clack of soldiers’ boots briefly breaks the silence. Pilgrims follow them in a slow march. Facing the monument, each bows respectfully for a few seconds. This gesture, repeated daily, reflects the special place that revolutionary memory still holds in Chinese society.

A short walk away, the Memorial to “Comrade” Mao Zedong, nestled at the foot of Mount Yinfeng, offers a more intimate glimpse into this history. The outside bustle gives way to a hushed atmosphere. Black and white photographs trace the leader’s journey, from his childhood to his revolutionary commitments.

Personal objects also tell another facet of the man. Books, clothes, everyday tools and even the first vehicle acquired in 1945. In this accumulation of traces, the visitor discovers less the statesman than the man from a rural environment and an era marked by profound social transformations.

The route then leads to Mao Zedong’s birthplace. Hidden among bamboo and bordered by lotus ponds, the modest traditional house contrasts sharply with the vast square that now bears his name. With its mud walls, thatched roof, and simple furnishings, everything evokes the peasant origins of the legendary leader.

In the small rooms of the house, visitors move slowly. For those who have had the chance to get closer, a wooden bed, a storm lamp, agricultural tools or even a large valve intended to conserve water, bear witness to the rural daily life of the time.

Here, the story of the Chinese revolution takes on a clearer dimension. It is the story of a man born into a peasant family who would become one of the main architects of the profound transformation of his country.

As the rain begins to subside, Shaoshan offers another lesson. Beyond the memory of Mao, this place tells the story of a China that built its national narrative around transformation, mobilization, and the pursuit of sovereignty.

This dimension cannot fail to resonate with us, the 23 Burkinabè visitors. Since the proclamation of the Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP), Burkina Faso has also placed sovereignty, citizen mobilization, and the country’s capacity to rely more on its own resources at the heart of its discourse and actions.

There is no comparison. The two historical contexts are different. But the same question runs through both experiences: How can a society be transformed sustainably by mobilizing its own resources, its people, and its youth? In Shaoshan, this question belongs to history. In Burkina Faso, it is urgent.

As the rain gradually recedes from the Shaoshan hills, silence returns. Umbrellas slowly close and visitors resume their journey, leaving behind the " Great Mao " watching over his sons…