As has already been well-established, huge portions of the world are in mourning over the death of Michael Jackson. This news item from the state-controlled SC News, a Web site of the Chung Shan Daily News Newspaper Group, recounts Michael Jackson’s first and only visit to Mainland China, which took place in 1987.
The report consists of an interview with Michael Jackson’s tour guide that day around the environs of Zhongshan City, the birth place of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, one of China’s most revered figures known as the father of modern China.
The CS News report says in part:
“Most of his fans in China regret that he never performed on the mainland. However, 22 years ago, he stepped on Chinese ground. He was fascinated by the rice fields, water buffalo and ducks in the pond. … Jackson took a group photo with children in Yongmo Village. On his face there’s a free and sweet smile, which makes him look like the ‘King of the Kids.’ Michael wrote below the photo: ‘When I saw the Chinese kids, I couldn’t resist them.”
Translated By James Chen
June 29, 2009
ZS News, People’s Republic of China, Original Article (Chinese)
At 5:26am on June 26, Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop” passed away at the age of 50 when his heart stopped. His Chinese fans feel deep regret that he was never able to hold a concert in mainland China. However, what few people know is that the pop star visited Zhongshan City 22 years ago. In 1987, when on holiday in Hong Kong, Jackson visited Zhongshan as a tourist. This was his only one visit to mainland China during his lifetime.
On the evening of June 27, with the assistance of the Zhongshan China International Travel Service [Zhongshan CITS], our reporter contacted Liu Guangzhi, who now lives in the United States. He is a Zhongshanese and once worked for Zhongshan CITS. On October 23, 1987, he accompanied Michael Jackson as a tour guide during his one-day visit to Zhongshan.
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