Beijing: Days after Communist China’s founding father Mao Zedong died 40 years ago, the problem of what to do with his corpse was becoming increasingly heated – ­literally. “The fear came later.”Within hours, nitrogen gas surrounding the corpse had been bought down to a cool 8˚C. But that did not prevent Mao’s anointed successor Hua Guofeng berating Xie for using “experimental” techniques. Senior leaders arrived day and night to bow before the body, adding to the seven-strong refrigeration team’s tensions. Mao’s death on Sept 9, 1976 is seen as bringing to an end the destructive decade of “Cultural Revolution” he initiated within his nation.

Source: The Star September 12, 2016 00:28 UTC