The surrounding areas of Beijing have a profound red cultural heritage and abundant red resources. In this beautiful summer, let us look back on those passionate red years and draw wisdom as well as power for progress from this experience.
Xibaipo Red tourism scenic area
Xibaipo is located in the central part of Pingshan county, Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province. It was once the location of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It was here that Comrade Mao Zedong and the CPC Central Committee commanded the three major campaigns of Liaoshen, Huaihai and Pingjin, which shocked both China and the world. This site also holds great historic significance of the second Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee and the National Land Conference. In other words, Xibaipo witnessed the emancipation of China and therefore had the reputation of “the place where new China coming from” and “the village where Chinese destiny were determind”.
Facing the rippling waters of Gangnan Reservoir and backed by the lush Baipo ridge covered by pine and cypress trees, Xibaipo stands proud. As we enter the scenic area, five bronze statues show before us, artistically depicting the scene of the first generation of leaders of the Communist Party of China enjoying the happiness of victory and anticipating a bright future.
At the centre of the Xibaipo scenic area lies the former site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It includes 12 significant sites, including the Military Commission’s Operations Room, the former residences of Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, and Dong Biwu, the venue for the second Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee, the site of the September Conference, the location where the CPC Central Committee received representatives from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Shanghai People’s Peace Delegation, as well as air-raid shelters and the former site of Beijing YuYing School.
Passing through these sites, Xibaipo Exhibition Hall stands like an elder gazing calmly and solemnly into the distance. The name was inscribed by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. The hall includes 12 exhibition rooms. The exhibition primarily focuses on the activities of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China during the Xibaipo period in the late stage of the Chinese Communist Revolution. It utilizes a large number of cultural relics, photographs, and historical materials, complemented by high-tech techniques such as paintings, sculptures, landscapes, holography, and hybrid painting and sculptural installation to reveal the great revolutionary practices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Xibaipo.
At the mountaintop behind the hall stands the Xibaipo memorial monument with a total height of 20.5 meters. The monument bears the name "Xibaipo" in the handwriting of Comrade Deng Xiaoping. The inscription on the monument, "Bear in mind the idea of ‘two imperatives’, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics," was written by Comrade Jiang Zemin in 1991.
Scenic Langyashan
Langyashan is located at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains. It is named for its extraordinarily rugged and precipitous peaks. There are 5 lumps composed of 36 peaks. The lotus petals peak, reaching an altitude of 1105 meters, is the main peak of Langyashan. The western and northern sides feature steep cliffs, while the eastern and southern sides are relatively gentle. In Langyashan, we can enjoy the picturesque scenery, with abundantly lush pine and cypress forests, cascading waterfalls, and flowing springs. It is also home to diverse wildlife and abundant plant resources.
Five Warriors Museum is located at the foot of Lanyashan, divided into the first and the second exhibition hall, each consisting of 6 exhibition rooms. The exhibition hall showcases historical materials, photographs, war relics, and sculptures of battle scenes, vividly depicting the heroic struggles of both the military and civilians during the period of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. It highlights the indomitable spirit of heroism and exposes the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese aggressors, making it a microcosm of the anti-Japanese base and a solid proof of the inevitable defeat of the aggressors and the ultimate victory of the people.
The bronze statues of the Five Warriors are located on the west side of the exhibition hall. The entire statue group consists of the Five Warriors Memorial Square and the Five Warriors Sculptures, which are harmoniously integrated with the exhibition hall and the surrounding natural landscape. The overall design is solemn, grand, simple, and vibrant. The Memorial Tower of five warriors is situated on the summit of Qipantuo Peak in Langyashan and the zone consists of the memorial tower, a stele gallery, a pavilion, and a decorated archway.
The cliff where the Five Warriors jumped is located on the Little Lotus Peak, with an elevation of 1,106 meters. The terrain is a strategically positioned area with three sides of sheer cliffs and one side of steep slope. On September 25, 1941, five soldiers from the 6th Squad, 7th Company, First Army of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, including squad leader Ma Baoyu, deputy squad leader Ge Zhenlin, and soldiers Song Xueyi, Hu Delin, and Hu Fucai, led the enemy to this location to divert their attention and make sure the main forces and local residents’ safe retreat. They fought fiercely against the relentless Japanese invaders. When they ran out of ammunition, they chose to die rather than surrender, bravely jumping off the cliff and sacrificing their lives for the country. Their heroic deeds created a magnificent and poignant epic that resonates through time. The Little Lotus Peak has since been known as the jumping spot.
