Chinese Money: Now Not Mao

It is something akin to a dollar bill without the broad face of George Washington. Or a pound note without the Queen. But the People's Bank of China will begin issuing tomorrow a 10 yuan (nearly $1.50) bank note without the face of Mao.

The new note is to mark the Olympic Games that begin in Beijing on August 8. The games are forcing many changes in China, from efforts to clean up Beijing's notorious smog to stopping its citizens from spitting and being rude.

On side of the note is is a picture of the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, the main venue for the games. The other side features the famous ancient Greek marble statue of a discus-thrower, and the number "2008".

The new note is a major shift by China. Mao has appeared on all forms of Chinese currency since 1999. He another revolutionary leaders appeared on previous notes since 1990. When Mao ruled, from 1949 to 1976, and railed against capitalist running dogs, the Chinese currency typically featured workers and farmers or scenes of nature.

Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader who first steered China toward embracing capitalism and open markets, has never appeared on a bank note.

by Jeffrey Cane