A personal journey through Mao’s China

Jung Chang’s memoir ‘Wild Swans’ tells the story of her family’s rise and fall under communist rule, revealing struggles and a nation’s transformation.

Suppose the Chinese Communist Party had aired TV commercials in the 1950s. In that case, they might have featured Jung Chang's early childhood as an example: Born in 1952, three years after Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China, Chang enjoyed a quality free education, public canteen meals, and a comfortable apartment. She idolised Chairman Zedong for these blessings and felt fortunate to avoid the hardships of capitalism.