“Premier of the People” they called him. Zhou Enlai’s name echoes through China’s history. Right here stands a sculpture honoring him.
Zhou Enlai served as China’s Premier for 26 years. He was the first Premier after the People’s Republic of China was founded. The people loved him deeply.
This sculpture before us isn’t the only memorial to Zhou Enlai. His birthplace in Huai’an Jiangsu Province also features a memorial hall. Deng Xiaoping himself inscribed the hall’s name.
The Memorial Hall of Zhou Enlai has been expanded several times. In 1998 a replica of Xihua Hall in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai was added. Also the Zhou Enlai Bronze Statue Plaza was erected. This commemorated the 100th anniversary of Zhou Enlai’s birth.
By 2008, even more was added. These additions commemorated the 110th anniversary of his birth. The Zhou Enlai Life and Achievement Exhibition Hall was built. The Xihua Garden Stele Park was newly constructed.
The bronze statue of Zhou Enlai stands tall. Including its base it is approximately 7.6 meters high. Li Shouren created it. He was a famous sculptor and professor. The statue captures Zhou Enlai’s posture. It shows him conversing with the public in the 1950s and 1960s.
Jiang Zemin wrote the inscription on the base. It reads “Zhou Enlai Comrade”. Jiang Zemin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China then.
All over China memorial halls recognize Zhou Enlai. People still feel affection for him. Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou also honor him. Dedicated people keep Zhou Enlai’s memory alive.
The Zhou Enlai Peace Institute wants a Visitor Center in Beijing. It should be near Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City. It will be modest like Zhou Enlai’s lifestyle. The building will resemble a traditional Beijing hutong.
This sculpture and the memorials ensure his legacy continues. Zhou Enlai remains the “Premier of the People”. He serves as an example for generations to come.