On September 13, a video of post‑00s sobbing while visiting Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall spread online, and the comment section saw many highly upvoted sarcastic remarks from netizens, joking that they were “crying to the point of suffocation” and “almost ended up in the ICU.” The comment section is now under official control.
The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall closed for renovations starting March 16 and is expected to officially reopen on August 31. Outside observers are watching closely to see whether Xi Jinping will use this renovation to reshape the memorial hall in order to build up his personal image.
On August 9, 2026, videos circulating online showed plumes of black smoke rising around the area of Beijing's Chairman Mao Memorial Hall; the exact location and cause of the fire remain unclear.
The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong has begun a renovation project, expected to last until August of the same year.