Low earthen houses, narrow courtyards, and war rooms marked with old red and blue wool on the battle map... It was here that the Communist Party of China handed over the excellent answer sheet in the test of the Chinese revolution.

"Unity is strength, unity is strength, this strength is iron, this strength is steel, harder than iron and stronger than steel..." This catchy ballad sung throughout the motherland came from here.

Here is Xibaipo Village, Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. Xibaipo, at the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, along the Hutuo River and surrounded by mountains, is the "last rural command base" for the CPC Central Committee to liberate the whole China.

"A night star came from northern Shanxi, and people can walk at night with brightness... " This ballad, which was born more than 70 years ago, once was spread in Xibaipo, Pingshan County, Hebei Province, and today local people still can sing it. The song is about the time when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China moved to Xibaipo at the eve of liberation. In May 1947, the Working Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China came to Pingshan County, and determined that the station of the Working Committee was centered on Xibaipo which was deep in the Taihang Mountain. In May 1948, Mao Zedong and others came to Xibaipo to join the Central Working Committee.

72 years ago, on March 23rd,  the sun was shining brightly along the Hutuo River. Behind the front house of Xibaipo Village, more than 10 cars were lined up... On this day, the CPC Central Committee set off for Beijing from Xibaipo. Chairman Mao Zedong said that today was the day to go to Beijing and take the exam.

In the distance, the dawn of New China was lighting up.

Today, 72 years later, with gentle breeze and bright sunshine, walking along the Baipo Lake, you can visit more than 10 red revolutionary memorial sites, such as Xibaipo Memorial, the old site of the CPC Central Committee, Xibaipo National Security Education Center, Xibaipo Integrity Education Center, and the old site of the Central Ministries and Commissions, which are standing on this land like red monuments that will never fade.

Now, this small village that once shined in the history of Chinese revolution has become a red tourism demonstration base relying on the red brand with new vitality.

No matter the surrounding hotels, homestays, tour guides, scenic spots and other red tourism projects, they have been well planned. Every year, more than 5 million people receive patriotic education here, learn revolutionary history and inherit the red spirit, which effectively stimulates the economic development of the old revolutionary base areas and improves the living standards of local people.

Standing in the square in front of the Xibaipo Memorial, looking south and far away, the Taihang Mountain is lush and verdand, and the Gangnan Reservoir is lucid and sparkling. The whole secnery is beautiful and picturesque, just like a slowly unfolding landscape picture scroll.

Xibaipo is one of the five revolutionary places in China. Visitors cannot miss the farm food here. There are many delicious dishes with unique flavors. Potted pancakes are made of corn flour or sorghum flour, millet flour, yam flour, chaff flour, etc., (corn flour and millet flour must be splashed with boiling water first), pasted on the side of the pot, and burnt to brown, which is crisp and delicious. In the local area, there is another kind of food that every household eats called “Fried Oil Ghost”, which is crystal clear, crisp, delicious and has a lingering fragrance. "Salty Food" is a traditional food mixing grains and vegetables. There are various cooking ways in people's homes. Dough, radishes, melons, sweet potatoes, etc., are added and mixed together, which tastes sweet and delicious, and it is also beneficial to the stomach.

The centennial journey is magnificent, and the centennial initial aspiration lasts forever. Let’s visit Xibaipo again, follow the pulsating rhythm of history, inherit the spirit of Xibaipo in that year, and hand over a new answer sheet in this changing new era!