In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China at a pivotal moment in history. The trip marked a groundbreaking shift in U.S.-China relations, but beneath the diplomatic smiles and handshakes lay a meticulously staged farce designed to conceal the harsh realities of life in China during the late Cultural Revolution.
China was on the verge of economic collapse, with severe material shortages and widespread hardship. Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council, orchestrated elaborate scenarios to project an illusion of prosperity and stability, deceiving Nixon and his delegation at every turn.
Staged abundance and contrived scenes
An article in the recent issue of Trends magazine detailed how military police, Communist Party members, and activists disguised themselves as ordinary citizens and staged activities in carefully curated environments. For instance, a designated shopping mall was stocked with an abundance of goods — but instructions from the top forbade anyone from actually purchasing anything. The scene was crafted to impress Nixon with the illusion of a thriving economy.
When Nixon’s motorcade passed through Wangfujing Street, throngs of enthusiastic well-wishers greeted him. However, the crowd was composed of military police disguised as civilians, with Party members and activists positioned behind them. Even the “villagers” interviewed by the delegation were actors portraying rural life.
In another instance, when U.S. reporters wanted to visit Huangpu Park, the area was cleared, and a dozen young couples were arranged to be seen “dating” in the bitter cold. Skeptical reporters quickly questioned the scene’s authenticity, asking: “Are they really dating in the park?”
A visit to a supermarket revealed yet another layer of deception. Phony customers were organized to buy poultry and fish, but as soon as the reporters left, all the goods were returned to the store.
Media narratives and cultural illusions
Lucy Jarvis, a renowned American producer, seized the opportunity of Nixon’s visit to create the Emmy-winning documentary “The Forbidden City.” The film depicted life around the Forbidden City and featured Liu Zhijun, a Qinghua University student selected by Chinese officials after months of vetting. Detailed scripts were prepared for Liu’s family and local residents, who had to memorize their answers to potential questions from Western journalists. Only after demonstrating complete mastery of their lines were they allowed to go home.
This tightly controlled narrative extended beyond the documentary. Reports from the Apple Daily revealed that Nixon’s welcome included 360 guards of honor — 120 to 155 more than the customary number for visiting heads of state. Every detail was calculated to convey grandeur and importance.
The hidden cost of appearances
For Zhou Enlai’s state dinner in the Great Hall, a team of fishermen was ordered to obtain 2,000 pounds of abalone in the deep sea where the temperature was -5°F. Three of the fishermen froze to death while on that mission, and one of them was only 17 years old.
Later, a reporter from The New York Times revealed the tragic deaths of the three fishermen, and President Nixon regretted this ever happening.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
