It is a little-known fact of modern history, but once Mao Zedong and his troops had finished the Long March and settled in Yenan, North China, the Great Statesman was not happy. He missed the locally brewed tea of his childhood, missed it so badly that in fact one chill winter morning he got up and without even waiting to put on his red star cap set off back to his native village of Shaoshun. Fortunately, the Nationalists were by now in retreat, so his path was more direct than the Long March, but it was still long. At last, he reached his childhood village and was able to enjoy the particular earthy tea. He supped two cups, smacked his lips and set off back to Yenan to lead the Revolution.
His colleagues were awed by the great man's determination and persistence in undertaking a second long trek, but he insisted they keep it secret. It was only after his death that they were able to tell the story and establish commemorative signs at key points along the road he had taken.
The Mao Tea Road was famous for a brief while, but alas, like the man himself, it has fallen into relative obscurity. The signs have been lost, chopped down or worn away. Visiting China a few years ago, the only relic I could find of this fascinating trip was a worn piece of board, ragged at both ends, reading '..AO TEA ROA..'
