Shanbei Xintianyou: Yangjialing in Yan'an
China is so vast, I want to see it. Let me take you to a place you may or may not have been to.
Shanbei Xintianyou: Yangjialing in Yan'an
Yangjialing is located northwest of Yan'an's old city. Originally called Wujiapo, it was home to only five families, including the Yang, Wu, and Zheng families. During the Ming Dynasty, a member of the Yang family became a high-ranking court official, serving as Minister of War and Minister of Works, and was highly favored by the emperor. After his death, a large cemetery of about 10 acres was built in front of the mountain, and the village name was changed to Yangjialing (Yang Family Mausoleum).
Entering the Yangjialing site, the first thing you see is the Central Auditorium.
In January 1937, Mao Zedong and the Party Central Committee arrived in Yan'an and initially stayed at Fenghuang Mountain in the old city. In November 1938, Japanese warplanes bombed Yan'an for the first time, heavily damaging the old city. The Central Committee and Mao Zedong and other leaders immediately moved to Yangjialing (Yang Family Mausoleum) northwest of Yan'an city, and changed the name from Yangjialing (Mausoleum) to Yangjialing (Ridge).
From November 1938 to March 1947, Mao Zedong and other central leaders, as well as the Party Central Committee offices, resided here. In the autumn of 1940, due to the construction of the Central Auditorium and other projects, the area became noisy, so Mao Zedong and other leaders, along with some central offices, moved to Zaoyuan, but they returned to Yangjialing in 1942. This was the longest residence of Mao Zedong and other central leaders in Yan'an. In 1943, Mao Zedong and others gradually moved to Zaoyuan from here.
From April 23 to June 21, 1945, the landmark Seventh National Congress of the Party was held in the Central Auditorium.
In May 1942, the famous "Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art" was held here. Because of the large number of participants, the group photo was taken in this manner.
It was here that the "Great Production Campaign" was launched, with the motto "Self-reliance and abundant food and clothing."
Mao Zedong's former residence and his vegetable garden.
On August 6, 1946, Mao Zedong met with American journalist Anna Louise Strong at a small stone table in the courtyard of the Yangjialing cave dwellings. In response to the prevalent "fear of America" sentiment, he put forward the famous assertion: "All reactionaries are paper tigers."
