Red Three Cliffs | The Urban Light of Chongqing
In the revolutionary history of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing is an undeniable presence.
It is a red land. During the difficult years of the stormy struggle, Comrade Zhou Enlai and other leaders of the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held high the banner of the Anti-Japanese War and democracy, insisted on and developed the Anti-Japanese National United Front, led the vast number of Communist Party members and revolutionary aspirants to struggle hard on this hot land, combined Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought with the concrete practice in the Kuomintang-controlled areas, and integrated the communist worldview, outlook on life, and values with the traditional virtues and national spirit of the Chinese nation, cultivating and forming the Red Rock Spirit that shines through the ages.
(This article is 7,700 words in total, and in-depth reading will take about 15 minutes.)
General Secretary Xi Jinping, with a deeper historical perspective, a broader vision of the times, and more substantial historical facts, has made important discussions on the Red Rock Spirit four times. The General Secretary said, "Chongqing's glorious revolutionary tradition has forged the lofty Red Rock Spirit, which is a powerful spiritual force to inspire and unite the cadres and masses of the city to strive together."
The General Secretary's profound elaboration on the Red Rock Spirit fully demonstrates its important status and unique value in the new era. In the nearly hundred years of time, the Red Rock Spirit has penetrated into the texture of Chongqing and into the marrow of every Chongqing native.
For history, they are compasses recording the course of national culture; for the city, they are notebooks recording the soul and character; for the spirit, they are picture books recording the peaks and stars of thought; and those buildings carrying these memories are like monuments scattered in every corner of the city.
Yuzhong Peninsula Photo by You Like
Yuzhong, the mother city of Chongqing, where the Red Rock Spirit shines, is also the place where these buildings are most concentrated. The story of the "Red Three Cliffs" begins here.
This is the light of revolution.
This is the light of Yuzhong.
This is the light of Chongqing.
Chongqing's Most Precious Memory
At the outset, we must give a noun explanation of the Red Three Cliffs.
As the name suggests, this is a red land. In the days of former white terror, the pioneers of the Communist Party of China were active here. In a difficult environment, they shed their blood for the liberation of the motherland. The Red Three Cliffs is the general name for this area.
This land of about 5.23 square kilometers is located in Yuzhong District, the mother city of Chongqing, and includes the revolutionary sites mainly composed of Hongyan Village (the former site of the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing), Zengjiayan (the Zhou Mansion at No. 50 Zengjiayan, Gui Garden, Te Garden), and Hutouyan (the former site of the Xinhua Daily General Office), encompassing 78 cultural relics, including 23 revolutionary cultural relics.
The Red Three Cliffs has become a key construction project for the entire Yuzhong District and even Chongqing City.
Among these sites, the Red Three Cliffs incorporate the urban renewal of three major areas: Hongyan Village-Hutouyan-Hualong Lake, Liziba-Eling-Fotuguan-Guoji Village, and Shangqingsi Zhongshan Fourth Road-Grand Hall-Datianwan-Cultural Palace, and carry out renovations and upgrades on the basis of conforming to the city's character and cultural heritage.
For Chongqing, this is undoubtedly no small matter. In addition to the protective restoration of revolutionary sites and cultural relics, there is also comprehensive urban renewal including road traffic transformation, park landscape improvement, and large-area functional upgrades.
It is certain that this will be a new gathering of the cultural and scenic elegance of the "Two Rivers and Four Banks" in Yuzhong District, and it will become a red cultural landmark of the national central city, a first-class red tourist destination and a characteristic education base nationwide.
This is Chongqing's most precious memory.
The Glorious Starting Point of Hongyan Village
When I stepped into Hongyan Village again, it was a rare sunny afternoon in the Chongqing winter. From the shade of the trees beside Hongyan Square came occasionally the chirping of birds, blending with the warm sunlight spread on the ground, peaceful and serene.
Exterior of Hongyan Village Photo by Luo Dawan
In such peace and serenity, it is hard to imagine how many Communists died generously and shed blood on this fertile land for the peace and serenity we enjoy today, and how many people with lofty ideals fought hard here, caring nothing for worldly gains, just like the stone steps at the end of Hongyan Square, rugged and steep, but the only way to Hongyan Village.
The former Dayou Farm, later Hongyanzui, now Hongyan Village, is at the end of those stone steps.
Speaking of Hongyan Village, we must first mention a person, Ms. Rao Guomo.
This woman, praised by Deng Xiaoping as "the mother of the Hongyan Village revolution," was an intellectual woman with substantial assets. She studied at Chengdu Yizhou Women's Normal School in her early years, and her brother Rao Guoliang was one of the 72 Martyrs of the Huanghuagang Uprising.
Influenced by her brother, Rao Guomo learned new culture and accepted new ideas. In the late 1920s, with the ideal of "saving the country through industry," she purchased the Liu Family Garden and turned it into "Dayou Farm," which had begun to take shape after years of hard pioneering work.
This area is mainly composed of Jurassic red shale, and the terrain plunges from south to north down to the Jialing River, hence the name Hongyanzui (Red Rock Mouth).
Rao Guomo's Former Residence Photo by You Like
In early 1939, the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was established in Chongqing, with Zhou Enlai as Secretary, and Bo Gu, Kai Feng, Wu Kejian, Ye Jianying, and Dong Biwu as Standing Committee members. Because the Kuomintang did not allow the CPC to conduct public activities, the Southern Bureau was secret, located in the public organ of the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing, initially at No. 70 Jifang Street in the city.
In early May 1939, the Japanese bombed heavily, destroying No. 70 Jifang Street. Through the underground party of East Sichuan, Zhou Enlai contacted Ms. Rao Guomo, and with her consent, the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing were moved to Dayou Farm.
This was the glorious starting point of Hongyan Village.
In 1944, Qian Zhiguang, Lin Boqu, Dong Biwu, Wang Ruofei (from left) at Hongyan Village, Chongqing
Hongyan Is Everyone's Home
In the then Kuomintang-controlled area, with Chongqing as the wartime capital of China, the open-minded Rao Guomo not only "gladly accepted" the Communist Party's proposal to rent houses but also did everything to help.
Former Site of the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing Photo by You Like
The comrades of the Southern Bureau planned a three-story brick and wood building on the Dayou Farm, which broke ground in the spring of that year and was completed in the autumn.
The entire building is of civil engineering with a bucket-and-sill structure, two floors and a ground floor, covering an area of 800 square meters, with 54 large and small rooms, located on the northwest slope of "Dayou Farm." To prevent Japanese air raids, the comrades also painted the exterior walls dark gray.
This was the office building of the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing at that time.
Former Site of the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing Photo by You Like
It is imaginable that in this building, how many instructions that deeply influenced the Chinese revolution were sent to the whole country and even the world, and how many events that guided the direction of the revolution took place here.
Group Photo of Some Staff of the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing
On the ground floor was the public organ, the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing (before the Southern Anhui Incident, the New Fourth Army Office in Chongqing also worked here); the second floor was the Southern Bureau organs and the offices and bedrooms of leading comrades. Zhou Enlai's office and bedroom was where the leading comrades of the Southern Bureau often held meetings and made major decisions; the largest room on the second floor was the library of the Southern Bureau and the office; the third floor was the secret section and secret radio station of the Southern Bureau and the office, mainly responsible for contacting the radio stations in Yan'an and other places and transmitting confidential documents.
Former Site of the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing Photo by You Like
As the number of personnel increased, the comrades of the Southern Bureau built a hall in the farm and set up a guest house, etc. Hongyan Village gradually became the work and life base camp for the comrades of the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
To this day, these sites are completely preserved in Hongyan Village, maintaining their solemn and fearless appearance at that time.
Aerial View of the Former Site of the Eighth Route Army Office Photo by You Like
In 1985, 81-year-old Deng Yingchao returned to Hongyan Village. At that time, she said emotionally in front of Rao Guomo's tomb, "We should not forget Rao Guomo. Without Madam Liu, where would our Hongyan be!" (Note: Madam Liu mentioned by Deng Yingchao refers to Rao Guomo.)
Rao Guomo's response to her righteous act was: "When they return triumphant in the future, Hongyan will be everyone's home."
The Small Liberated Area in the Kuomintang-Controlled Zone
"Hongyan was a desolate valley, but it shone brightly in the Anti-Japanese War." During the war, Hongyan Village became the command center of the Communist Party of China in the Kuomintang-controlled area and also the mainstay of the Anti-Japanese National United Front. The people in the rear area affectionately called Hongyan Village the "Lighthouse of the Fog City" and the "Small Liberated Area in the Kuomintang-Controlled Zone."
Buildings in Hongyan Village Photo by You Like
On the night of January 17, 1941, Zhou Enlai, filled with grief and indignation, wrote here the famous lines exposing the Kuomintang diehards for creating the "Southern Anhui Incident": "A most grievous injustice, a leaf south of the river; fratricidal strife, why the urgent persecution?" and "Mourning for those who died for the nation in the south."
In 1942, Deng Yingchao set up a nursery in Hongyan Village, which at most had more than 30 children. When it opened, the children often cried because they couldn't get toys to play with. The thoughtful Zhou Enlai learned about this and said, "Children are the revolutionary offspring, the treasures of the motherland, our successors. Everyone should care about them." He mobilized the staff to make various toys for the children.
Hongyan Village - Monument to the 110th Anniversary of Zhou Enlai's Birth Photo by You Like
During the peace negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in Chongqing from August to October 1945, Chairman Mao Zedong stayed in Chongqing for 43 days.
During these days, except for three days when he stayed in Shandong Linyuan at Chiang Kai-shek's invitation, Mao Zedong lived in Hongyan Village for the remaining 40 days.
During the day, he worked and received people from all walks of life at Gui Garden, or went to Te Garden to discuss state affairs with democratic personages, and at night he returned to Hongyan Village to work and live.
Hongyan Village - Mao Zedong's Office Photo by Luo Dawan
It was in Hongyan Village that Chairman Mao, in addition to commanding the Shangdang Campaign and making major strategic deployments for advancing into the Northeast, also rewrote on a square table the poem "Snow: To the tune of Spring in a Pleasure Garden" written in 1936, presenting it to the democratic personage Li Yazi. This poem, with its majestic momentum, shook the whole of Chongqing and attracted attention from both domestic and foreign circles.
Hongyan Village - Stone Carving of "Snow: To the Tune of Spring in a Pleasure Garden" Photo by You Like
It is said that major newspapers in the wartime capital reprinted it and published a large number of responsive works, forming a "Spring in a Pleasure Garden fever" in the cultural circle. Some restaurants even collected dozens of such poems and hung them in the shop to attract customers.
Hongyan Village - Former Site of Dayou Farm Photo by You Like
In May 1946, the National Government moved east to Nanjing. Zhou Enlai and Dong Biwu led the CPC delegation, the Southern Bureau, and the office staff to leave Chongqing for Nanjing one after another.
Before leaving, Dong Biwu inscribed the words "Dayou Farm" for Ms. Rao Guomo and also wrote a seven-character quatrain entitled "To Ms. Rao Guomo": "Eight years of success in the rear area, Hongyan as a shelter gave little anxiety. The hostess, fond of gardening, was busy growing flowers and bamboo to entertain guests."
Recorded, witnessed, and commemorated.
The Xinhua Daily at Hutouyan
"The Kuomintang did not allow Communist Party organizations to operate in the Kuomintang-controlled area," the staff of the Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall told us. "From around 1940, the Kuomintang learned of the existence of the Southern Bureau, but could never find evidence. The Southern Bureau existed and operated widely in the Kuomintang's ruling center for nearly eight years, precisely because of the historic and clever integration of the Southern Bureau and the Eighth Route Army Office."
How could the conflict between brothers be resolved and external aggression be jointly resisted?
Apart from the liberating areas' military counterattacks against the Kuomintang diehards' retrogressive acts, the Southern Bureau opened a "second front" within the Kuomintang-controlled area, using struggle to maintain unity. Chongqing became the propaganda center of the Kuomintang-controlled area.
Hutouyan was the core point of this propaganda center—the former site of the Xinhua Daily General Office, which is located here.
The Xinhua Daily General Office under Hutouyan, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Former Site of the Xinhua Daily General Office Photo by Lu Gang
The former site of the Xinhua Daily General Office is located at No. 86 Hutouyan Village, Yuzhong District. The general office has five floors of bamboo and wood, civil engineering structures, black and white, built along the mountain.
From January 1938 to February 1947, under the political pressure of the Kuomintang diehards, Xinhua Daily faced blockades in news editing and distribution and underwent strict censorship. The comrades also adopted corresponding methods to cope. When articles were censored or deleted, some left blank spaces, and some marked the deleted parts with "xx" symbols.
A printing press now collected in the Chongqing Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum is the best witness of this history—224 cm long, 154 cm wide, 153 cm high, weighing about 1 ton, imported from Germany, equipped with a Siemens motor, printing finely, and served as a powerful tool for newspaper publishing at that time.
The Printing Press Used by Xinhua Daily Photo by You Like
After the Southern Anhui Incident in 1941, on this machine, Zhou Enlai turned the famous line he had written in Hongyan Village, "A most grievous injustice, a leaf south of the river; fratricidal strife, why the urgent persecution?!" into printed type, shouting out to the whole society.
Thus, the trend of popular sentiment was revealed.
"The Xinhua Front Army"
The Xinhua Daily and the weekly "The Masses" published by the Xinhua Daily Press were the only newspaper and periodical openly published by the Communist Party of China in the Kuomintang-controlled areas during the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War. They were first published in Wuhan in the early days of the nationwide Anti-Japanese War: on January 11, 1938, and December 11, 1937, respectively. From the day of their founding, they worked together in the same office and fought side by side.
In October 1938, Wuhan fell, and the press moved to Chongqing. By February 1947, when the press was closed down by the Kuomintang, Xinhua Daily had lasted for nine years.
During these nine years, the Xinhua Daily General Office held out at Hutouyan for seven and a half years, publishing and distributing over 2,700 issues.
Group Photo of Zhou Enlai with Some Comrades of Xinhua Daily and The Masses Weekly
Through the propaganda platform of Xinhua Daily, the Southern Bureau promptly exposed the true face of the Kuomintang, while widely making friends, strengthening united front work with the Kuomintang, various democratic parties, cultural and educational circles, industrial and commercial circles, local forces, etc., developing progressive forces, winning over intermediate forces, and isolating diehard forces. Using Chongqing as the wartime capital, where foreign embassies and news agencies gathered, the Southern Bureau also carried out international anti-fascist united front work and gained support from international public opinion.
The Xinhua Daily Business Office on Minsheng Road, Chongqing City Center
Former Site of the Xinhua Daily Business Office Today Photo by You Like
"Whenever the Kuomintang deviated from the direction of joint resistance against Japan, the Southern Bureau would use Xinhua Daily to launch public opinion to strongly condemn it. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek, who claimed to be the 'Supreme Commander of the War of Resistance,' dare not go further on the path of 'actively opposing the Communists and passively resisting Japan.'" The staff of the Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall said that it was precisely because of the Southern Bureau's endurance and humiliation, negotiations, and mediation that the second KMT-CPC cooperation could be maintained until the final victory of the Anti-Japanese War. The historical contribution of Hutouyan is indelible.
A Sample of Xinhua Daily from That Time
Hence, later, Comrade Mao Zedong praised the Xinhua journalists who fought bravely under Hutouyan as the "Xinhua Front Army."
This was the highest honor for journalists.
Intrigues at the Zhou Mansion
In the concept of the Red Three Cliffs, the three sites at No. 50 Zengjiayan on Zhongshan Fourth Road in Shangqingsi—Zhou Mansion, Gui Garden, and Te Garden—are geographically close, so they are collectively referred to as Zengjiayan.
But this small area along Zhongshan Fourth Road is where the most significant events affecting the direction of modern Chinese history occurred; it is also a place where, rarely in human political history, the intelligence agencies of two hostile parties lived side by side.
Restored Zhou Mansion Square Photo by You Like
The Zhou Mansion at No. 50 Zengjiayan, though nominally Zhou Enlai's private mansion rented as Vice Minister of the Political Department of the National Government's Military Committee, was actually the office of the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in the city and the seat of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee of the CPC. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was the brain of the Communist Party in the Kuomintang-controlled area.
Gui Garden witnessed the famous "Chongqing Negotiations"; Te Garden is the birthplace of China's democratic parties and the location of the current "Te Garden·Exhibition Hall of the History of China's Democratic Parties."
Te Garden Photo by You Like
Gui Garden Photo by You Like
The Zhou Mansion was a place where the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries such as Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, Ye Jianying, Wang Ruofei, Wu Yuzhang, and Deng Yingchao fought, worked, and lived. The Cultural Committee, Women's Group, Foreign Affairs Group, Military Group, and United Front Committee under the Southern Bureau also had offices here.
Today, during holidays, this place is crowded with tourists, but few know the dangers and cleverness that occurred here in the past.
Bronze Statue of Zhou Enlai on Zhou Mansion Square Photo by You Like
No. 50 Zengjiayan has three floors. At that time, they rented most of the first floor, a small part of the second floor, and all of the third floor. Most of the second floor was exactly occupied by the Kuomintang.
Although it was the period of the second KMT-CPC cooperation, the Kuomintang-controlled area was shrouded in white terror.
Therefore, sometimes when Zhou Enlai and other leaders and staff of the Southern Bureau entered No. 50 Zengjiayan, Kuomintang military and police spies would follow. The mental contest required then was more thrilling than a spy movie.
Balcony of the Zhou Mansion Facing the Jialing River
Please imagine: to the left of No. 50 Zengjiayan is the mansion of Dai Li, the head of the Kuomintang military secret service; to the right is the police station of the Kuomintang; and outside the gate, there are "tea houses" and "cigarette stalls" set up by spies. The environment was extremely dangerous.
In 1958, Dong Biwu, who had lived here for many years, revisited the place and, in high spirits, wrote an interesting doggerel: "Eight years of Anti-Japanese War I lodged here, 'Three-da-weizhi' a new laugh. Dai Li is my neighbor on the right, always watching people passing by."
This poem means: During the Anti-Japanese War, they persisted in working here for eight years, and "Three-da-weizhi" is the transliteration of the English "sandwich" (bread with ham).
Old Photo of the Zhou Mansion After Liberation
This describes the environment at that time. The Kuomintang spies surrounded the "Zhou Mansion," but inside the mansion, the Southern Bureau had an absolute advantage. The Southern Bureau occupied the first and third floors, like a sandwich with the Kuomintang in the middle. The spy chief Dai Li glared at the gate, always watching passers-by.
Dangerous past, calmly handled.
Truly wonderful and great.
In October 1985, Deng Yingchao returned to No. 50 Zengjiayan and waved to the crowd at the gate.
"Fog Season Public Performances" and the International Stage
After the Southern Anhui Incident in 1941, the white terror in the Kuomintang-controlled area intensified, and the political atmosphere in the mountain city of Chongqing was extremely oppressive; the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was damaged, and the Anti-Japanese National United Front was in crisis.
But with the enemy at the gate, political parties and individuals outside the Kuomintang that advocated resistance urgently hoped to unite.
Therefore, under the leadership of the Southern Bureau, the Cultural Committee discussed with the literary and theatrical circles in the wartime capital to take advantage of the foggy weather from October to April each year, when Japanese planes could hardly bomb, to hold public performances of plays to consolidate the enthusiasm of the whole nation for resistance and defend the country.
The public performances lasted for four seasons, staging over 100 plays, including famous plays such as "The Spring and Autumn of the Heavenly Kingdom," "Flowers of a Thorn-Apple Tree," and "Qu Yuan." All performances were sold out. Therefore, this public performance not only became the golden age of Chinese drama history but also greatly inspired the people in the Kuomintang-controlled area to persist in the fight against Japan and consolidated the Anti-Japanese National United Front. It is historically called the "Fog Season Public Performances."
Stills from the Play "Qu Yuan"
At that time, the wartime capital was not only the last fortress of the Anti-Japanese War and the center of national solidarity but also a stage for international politics, where foreign legations and consulates gathered.
The Foreign Affairs Group of the Southern Bureau, under the leadership of Zhou Enlai, adopted the foreign affairs policy of "publicize outward, win over inward," gaining understanding and support from international friends for the Communist Party of China. It facilitated major historical events such as the visit of a Chinese and foreign journalist corps to Yan'an, the visit of a US Army observation group to Yan'an, and Dong Biwu's participation as a member of the Chinese delegation to the United Nations Conference in San Francisco.
This enabled the Communist Party of China to step out of the border areas and onto the international political stage.
On June 26, 1945, Dong Biwu signed the United Nations Charter.
In 1945, Chairman Mao discussed with US Ambassador to China Patrick Hurley in Yan'an.
This Foreign Affairs Group was well trained in such an environment.
After the founding of New China, many staff members of the group became excellent diplomats of the Republic, active in the diplomatic field. The famous diplomatic couple Qiao Guanhua and Gong Peng worked in the group at that time.
The Cradle of China's Democratic Parties
Not far from the Shangqingsi Roundabout in the direction of the Jialing River is a residence called Te Garden, which was the former residence of the famous patriotic democratic personage Xian Ying during the Anti-Japanese War. Because Xian Ying's courtesy name was "Tesheng," it is also called Te Garden.
In March 2004, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee decided to establish the first "Traditional Education Base of the Chinese United Front" here, as well as a united front propaganda and education line with the "Te Garden·Exhibition Hall of the History of China's Democratic Parties" as the leading point.
Exhibition Hall of the History of China's Democratic Parties Photo by You Like
The reason for building the exhibition hall here is that Chongqing is an important birthplace of China's democratic forces—with the support and help of the Southern Bureau, democratic parties emerged in China at that time. Four of the eight democratic parties in contemporary China were successively established and flourished in Chongqing, and the foundation for a new democratic movement was also formed.
Monument to the Founding of the China Democratic League Photo by You Like
Monument to the Founding of the Comrades' Association of the Three Principles of the People Photo by Luo Dawan
When Chairman Mao came to Chongqing for negotiations, he visited Te Garden three times to discuss state affairs with the head of the China Democratic League, the famous patriotic democratic personage Zhang Lan, and Xian Ying. (Note: The latest research shows that Mao Zedong visited Te Garden six times, three of which were to meet Zhang Lan; but for rigor, it is usually said that he visited Te Garden three times to see Zhang Lan.)
Oil Painting Created Based on the Scene of Mao Zedong's Three Visits to Te Garden During the Chongqing Negotiations
To commemorate Te Garden's contribution to the revolutionary cause, Dong Biwu proposed to award Te Garden the title of "Home of Democracy." Later, Feng Yuxiang personally inscribed a plaque with "Home of Democracy." On the occasion of Xian Ying's 60th birthday banquet, Chairman Mao saw the four characters "Home of Democracy" at the entrance of Te Garden and praised, "The name was given by Comrade Dong, the characters were written by General Feng, and the couplet was presented by Biao Lao; it can be called three unique accomplishments!"
This is truly the cradle of China's democratic parties.
With the Southern Bureau's promotion, democratic forces flourished at that time. This played a foundational role in promoting the transformation of intermediate forces into democratic forces, clarifying the struggle goals of democratic forces, promoting the formation of a new pattern of democratic politics, and ultimately establishing the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China after the founding of New China.
Now, this exhibition hall has become the only comprehensive exhibition hall in the country that fully reflects the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. In May 2013, Te Garden was announced as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In 2020, it was announced as the third batch of national-level Anti-Japanese War sites, quietly telling future generations about the passionate glory of the past.
Red Three Cliffs, Waiting for Red Hearts from Afar
As the tide of history recedes, Hongyanzui, Zengjiayan, and Hutouyan have long completed their original missions and quietly changed their roles.
Hongyanzui, where the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing were located, became Hongyan Village, and the Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall was established; No. 50 Zengjiayan Zhou Mansion and Gui Garden, as important historical sites, regained their glory after renovation, while the "Te Garden·Exhibition Hall of the History of China's Democratic Parties" and the "Traditional Education Base of the Chinese United Front" were established at Te Garden; the former site of the Xinhua Daily General Office at Hutouyan has also recovered its previous busy figure and eventful years through restoration.
Main Entrance of Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall Photo by You Like
Our brief sketch is far from sufficient to present the weighty and resilient Red Rock Spirit carried by this red land of Chongqing. Yuzhong, Chongqing, and China are developing with each passing day. As history walks through nearly a hundred glorious years, perhaps it is waiting for future generations to rediscover, explore, and recall.
Steps Outside the Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall Photo by You Like
This time, the Red Three Cliffs project has included three major areas—Hongyan Village-Hutouyan-Hualong Lake, Liziba-Eling-Fotuguan-Guoji Village, and Zhongshan Fourth Road-Grand Hall-Datianwan-Cultural Palace—as a whole into the planning, encompassing 78 cultural relics, including 23 revolutionary cultural relics. This is the content for overall planning, development, and upgrading, which is our affectionate look back at the passionate years.
Because this is the source of our nostalgia, our spiritual home, and our native land.
Sculptures in Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall Photo by You Like
The construction of the Red Three Cliffs proceeds in parallel with the organic renewal of the city. We can foresee that in the future Yuzhong District, the red culture will shine even more brightly and blend more harmoniously into the fabric of life; the cultural landscapes and natural sceneries of the "Two Rivers and Four Banks" will also be strung into a chain, connected into a piece, and gather with a new look to welcome tourists.
Hongyan Square Photo by You Like
The Red Rock Spirit is a precious spiritual wealth of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese nation. It is a unique spiritual beacon in the genealogy of the Chinese revolutionary spirit and an important coordinate in the hundred-year history of the CPC.
The Red Rock Spirit, together with the Red Boat Spirit, Jinggangshan Spirit, Long March Spirit, Yan'an Spirit, and Xibaipo Spirit, constitutes the complete genealogy of the Chinese revolutionary spirit.
This beautiful red land, the birthplace of the Red Rock Spirit, is bound to become a national red cultural landmark, a first-class patriotic education base, and a red cultural tourism destination nationwide.
It will wait for red hearts from afar,
Slowly approaching it.
