Yan'an Travel Series (IV): Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site

Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site is a well-known revolutionary site in Yan'an. Here we discuss the main attractions within the courtyard and important events related to Zaoyuan. Zaoyuan was originally a landlord's estate, named for its many jujube trees, called 'Zaoyuan' (Jujube Garden). After the Central Committee moved to Yan'an, the Central Social Department was stationed here and renamed it 'Yan Garden'. The minister of the Central Social Department was Kang Sheng. Later, the Central Military Commission Operations Room, Central Administrative Office, and Central Management Bureau also operated here. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Ren Bishi, Zhang Wentian, Peng Dehuai, Wang Jiaxiang, Shi Zhe, Zeng San, and Kang Sheng lived here. While the Central Auditorium was being built in Yangjialing, Chairman Mao moved here to live, later moved back to Yangjialing, and after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he moved here again for a few months. It was from Zaoyuan that Chairman Mao went to Chongqing for the 'Chongqing Negotiations'. Chairman Mao wrote many important works in Zaoyuan, among which 'Serve the People' was written here. On September 8, 1944, at the foot of the western hill in the back ditch of Zaoyuan, Mao Zedong attended the memorial meeting for martyr Zhang Side and delivered the eulogy 'Serve the People', and also personally wrote a condolence message: 'Salute to Comrade Zhang Side who sacrificed for the interests of the people!' The environment inside Zaoyuan is very pleasant, with lush green trees. There is a 'Happiness Canal' in the middle, built in 1940, 6 kilometers long. It was designed by Ding Zhongwen of the Border Region Construction Department, and jointly built by the masses and the Border Region Government. After the canal was completed, it irrigated 1,400 mu of land in five surrounding villages. Because the canal brought bumper harvests year after year, the masses named it the 'Happiness Canal'. Inside the courtyard there is a Soviet-style small auditorium, originally the dining hall of the Central Secretariat. The surrounding area is very open, and it was also used for dances and movie screenings. On February 19, 1943, Chairman Mao and other central leaders celebrated the birthdays of 24 elderly people over 60 years old at Zaoyuan. Chairman Mao personally toasted them. This grand event greatly inspired the people of Yan'an and the liberated areas, and the people loved their leader even more. Liu Shaoqi and Wang Guangmei were married here in 1947. In March 1947, after the Kuomintang army occupied Yan'an, the site was severely damaged. After liberation, it was restored according to its original appearance. (Written by Dasong Wanjun on September 18, 2020)