Chou En-Lai: The Man Who Saved Millions & Welcomed Nixon

He survived Mao’s worst disasters… and secretly saved millions. 

Then he invited Richard Nixon to China and changed the world. 

This is **Zhou Enlai** — China’s quiet premier for 27 years. 

From famine to Cultural Revolution to ping-pong diplomacy, this *History Ignited* episode tells the complicated true story behind Billy Joel’s lyric. 

**Timestamps:** 

0:00 – Intro 

1:20 – Who Was Zhou Enlai? 

3:10 – Great Leap Forward Disaster 

5:40 – Protecting Lives in the Cultural Revolution 

8:15 – Ping-Pong Diplomacy & Nixon’s Visit 

11:30 – Legacy & Why China Still Mourns Him 

13:40 – Tea-riffic Joke! 

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About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.