First and foremost, Mao Zedong’s body had to be cooled down without freezing it (via The Guardian). The technology was finicky, but within hours, officials succeeded. Things, however, were so tense that those working on the body didn’t sleep for days at a time. After eight days, the entire process was over. Still, details of the actual embalming process are a little less clear, and no official accounts of how Mao was actually preserved have ever been published.

Nonetheless, Mao’s body was put on display in 1977 in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where it can still be found today. According to The Anthrotorian, his body lies in a crystal coffin that is draped with a red flag bearing a hammer and sickle. His hair is defined by gray streaks, and underneath him is a refrigerator. At night, Mao’s body is lowered and stored. Visitors flock to the mausoleum (which is only closed Mondays) day after day. Due to Mao’s bloody history, some say his body should be taken off display. In China, however, he is seen as a hero, so it seems like he isn’t going anywhere for now.