When you arrive at your hotel in the Chinese city of Shaoshan, you'll likely be offered a welcome drink. The hotels here are modern and comfortable. Mine opened a few months ago and blends Scandinavian design with architecture. feng shui, the Chinese technique of Taoist origin that seeks balance. The hotel is made of wood, clean and bright, and very reasonably priced. A hotel like this in Barcelona would cost an arm and a leg. However, here, upon arrival, in addition to the drink, they give you a second gift: a pin with Mao Zedong's face. "You can wear it tomorrow when you visit the city," the receptionist says in English.