Mao Zedong's image resurges among China's Gen Z 50 years after his death

September 14, 2026 at 10:46 AM2 min

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Fifty years after Mao Zedong's death, his image has re-emerged as a prominent phenomenon in China's youth internet culture. Videos of Mao on Bilibili, a platform where nearly 60% of users are aged 18-24, have drawn millions of views and tens of thousands of comments. The trend reflects a renewed interest in the former leader among Generation Z, even as his legacy includes campaigns that caused millions of deaths.

Key Facts

Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party and the country from the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 until his death in 1976.
Nearly 60% of Bilibili users are aged 18 to 24.
Since 2019, 'Selected Works of Mao Zedong' has ranked first in borrowing at Tsinghua University Library through 2025.
Mao initiated the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, campaigns that caused millions of deaths from famine and repression.

Youth Engagement on Bilibili

On Bilibili, China's equivalent of YouTube, searches for 'Mao Zedong' or 'Teacher' return dozens of videos featuring footage of Mao's speeches. The videos span Mao's life from his youth and military service in the Kuomintang army to his leadership of China and Cold War diplomacy with the United States and the Soviet Union. Many of these videos have accumulated millions of views and tens of thousands of comments, with some users praising Mao, such as one comment reading 'Long live the great man'. Nearly 60% of Bilibili's users are between 18 and 24 years old.

Personal Testimony and Cultural Shift

Dong, a high school graduate from Nanjing preparing for university, said he was deeply moved by a video of two girls singing a patriotic song at the foot of a giant statue of young Mao on Orange Isle in Changsha. He described the statue as 'so tall, full of youthful energy' and said looking at it gave him strong emotions. Many of his former classmates participate in youth online communities that discuss current events, often called 'keyboard politician circles'. Since 2019, 'Selected Works of Mao Zedong' has unexpectedly ranked first in borrowing at Tsinghua University Library and held that position through 2025.