China's first limo and Chinese leaders
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E-mail Xinhua, February 17, 2013
What sedans did Chairman Mao Zedong choose for parade and daily use? Some of them could be found in a private classic car museum in Beijing, capital of China.
![Chinese President Hu Jintao travels in a Hongqi sedan to review troops at the 60th anniversay of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009. [Photo/Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20130217/001372acd0b5128acf2201.jpg "Chinese President Hu Jintao travels in a Hongqi sedan to review troops at the 60th anniversay of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009. [Photo/Xinhua]") |
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Chinese President Hu Jintao travels in a Hongqi sedan to review troops at the 60th anniversay of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Located 80 kilometers north of the city, the Beijing Classic Car Museum has 200-plus old limousines comprising Chinese and foreign brands like Hongqi (Red Flag), Ford, Dodge, Desoto, Mercedes-Benz and Volga.
Among them are 36 national sedan Hongqi vehicles and they are Luo Wenyou's favorites. He is the owner of the museum.
"Some of them were once used by Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, and Marshal Nie Rongzhen," the 58-year-old Luo said.
In his eyes, "Hongqi represents China and Chinese car manufacturing the best."
In 1956, the Communist Party of China held its central political bureau meeting. Chairman Mao expressed his wish to be driven in a homemade car to the meeting.
At the time, China's auto industry was budding following the country' s First Automobile Works (FAW) poised to break ground in 1953 in Changchun, capital city of northeast Jilin Province.
"'Live up to Mao's expectations, make a desirable car dedicated to him' had become a popular cry since then," Luo told.
In 1958, the first Hongqi sedan was produced by the FAW in response to Mao's wish.
Since its debut as parade sedan at Tian'anmen Square in 1959 during China's 10th National Day celebration, Hongqi's role has never been changed.
Chinese people have regarded the brand as the nation's pride for its links with party leaders and historical role in the country.
As told by Luo, Hongqi has been the state guest sedan replacing former Soviet Union's ZIS since 1964.
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