Beijing is an important gathering place and inheritance site for red cultural resources, with precious revolutionary historical materials and red marks. Recently, the updated and renovated Zhaojialou site has reopened to the public, attracting many tourists to visit. In this article, we will take you to explore the "red landmarks" in the hutongs of Beijing, have a "dialogue" with revolutionary predecessors across time and space, and receive spiritual baptism.

Station 01: Zhaojialou Site

In a quiet hutong courtyard between Dongzongbu Hutong and Jinbao Street, there is an important historical and cultural site in the May Fourth Movement-Zhaojialou. Recently, the updated and renovated Zhaojialou site has reopened to the public, and the Zhaojialou Restaurant, which operates here, has also reopened.

It is understood that Zhaojialou was originally the mansion of Zhao Zhenji, a grand academician of the Wenyuan Pavilion during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty. Later, it became the mansion of Cao Rulin during the period of the Republic of China and became famous at home and abroad because of the "fire at Zhaojialou" incident during the May Fourth Movement. After the founding of New China, Cao Rulin's old mansion was demolished and a new house was built on the original site. In 2002, the Zhaojialou site was opened to the public and also operated as the Zhaojialou Restaurant.

The updated and renovated Zhaojialou Restaurant has undergone a comprehensive upgrade. The 191 rooms in the restaurant have been re-optimized and designed to be brighter and more comfortable, and a lobby lounge and specialty restaurant have been added.

In addition, the reopened lobby of the Zhaojialou Restaurant also has an exhibition area. The exhibition revolves around four themes: tracing the source of Zhaojialou, the May Fourth Movement, the fire at Zhaojialou, and passing on the torch. The scene of Li Dazhao's office has been replicated on site, and tourists can also listen to the voices of revolutionary martyrs such as Shao Piaoping through old telephones.

Address: No. 1 Zhaojialou Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Station 02: Former Site of Mongolian-Tibetan School

In the bustling Xidan commercial street, there is a quaint and quiet courtyard. A hundred years ago, revolutionary pioneers such as Li Dazhao spread Marxism here, and progressive young people from ethnic minorities such as Ulanfu, Li Yuzhi, and Duosongnian studied here. The revolutionary spark of ethnic minorities was ignited here and spread throughout the country by them.

This is the former site of the Mongolian-Tibetan School. Its predecessor was the mansion of Kangxi's aunt, the 14th daughter of Huang Taiji, Kechun Heshuo Zhang Princess-Jianning Princess. There is also an attached Efu residence next to the princess's mansion, where Efu Wu Yingxiong lived.

The site is divided into two courtyards, east and west. The west courtyard is the exhibition area, and the east courtyard is the experience area.

The West Courtyard features two exhibitions: "The Glorious History and Achievements of the Chinese Communist Party's National Work" and "The Former Site of the Mongolian-Tibetan School". With over 420 photographs and more than 280 artifacts, documents, and archives, visitors can experience the brilliant history and great achievements of the Chinese Communist Party's national work over the past century. The East Courtyard is the "Excellent Cultural Experience Area of the Chinese Nation", divided into themed experiential spaces such as clothing, fine arts, literature, medicine, music, and dance, allowing visitors to vividly experience the colorful and splendid traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

Address: No. 33 Xiaoshihuhutong, Xicheng District, Beijing

Station 03: Former Site of the New Youth Magazine Editorial Office

Push open the gate at No. 20 Jian'gan Hutong, Beichizi Street, and a small courtyard appears before your eyes. This is where the editorial office of the New Youth magazine was located after it moved from Shanghai to Beijing in 1917, and it was also the place where Chen Duxiu rented a room when he was in Beijing.

Pushing open the vermilion gate and passing through the porch, the south and north rooms, and a small room near the street door, embrace a small courtyard made of blue bricks and gray tiles. On the west wall, bronze reliefs depict scenes of Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, and others working here. In the fish tank in the courtyard, several red fish swim happily.

The exhibitions in the north and south rooms of the former residence respectively showcase two themes: "The New Youth in History" and "Chen Duxiu in Beijing", focusing on the historical status and important role of the New Youth magazine, as well as Chen Duxiu's basic life and major activities and historical significance during his time in Beijing.

With the popularity of literary and artistic works celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, such as "Awakening Age", the former site of the New Youth magazine editorial office has become a popular destination for tourists to take photos, becoming a true red "internet celebrity" landmark, with a constant stream of visitors making appointments to visit.

Address: No. 20 Jian'gan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Station 04: Former Site of the Beijing Daily Newspaper Office

Turning off the bustling crossroads of Caishikou into a quiet alley and walking less than 10 minutes, there is a two-story building with a blend of Chinese and Western architecture made of blue bricks and gray tiles. This is No. 30 and No. 32 Weiran Hutong, Chongwen District, the former site of the Beijing Daily Newspaper Office, which was a pioneer in spreading Marxism in the early days, and also the former residence of Shao Piaoping.

During the newspaper period, the first floor of the building was the transmission room and the business office responsible for newspaper sales and advertising. The second floor was the editorial office and the manager's office, with two black long tables for the editors to work on. After the newspaper was edited, the proof was sent to the courtyard outside the window for typesetting and proofreading, and then printed at the self-established Zhaoming Printing Bureau. After the newspaper was published, the newspaper boy would deliver the newspaper to the newspaper room in Beiliuxiang, and then distribute it to the news vendors.

Nowadays, tourists can not only revisit the red history of progressive journalists represented by Shao Piaoping through exhibitions such as "Centennial Red Newspaper Special Exhibition" and "Shao Piaoping's Life Story Special Exhibition", but also "transform" into journalists, students, office workers and other identities of the same era as Shao Piaoping, and visit the old site to learn more historical details.

Address: No. 30 and No. 32 Weiran Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing

Station 05: Former Site of Peking University Second Hospital

The former site of Peking University Second Hospital (formerly the Mathematics Building of Peking University) is located in the area of Shatan Hou Street, Dongcheng District, with the original campus of Peking University. The building was built in 1904 and is a relic of the modernization of higher education in China. It was renamed the Mathematics Building of Peking University Second Hospital in 1919, and Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu once taught here. In March 1919, young Mao Zedong listened to Li Dazhao's lecture in the 16th classroom of the building. In May 1920, the Beijing University Marxist Theory Research Association held revolutionary activities such as celebrating May Day in this building. It was also an important activity site for early organizations such as the Beijing Socialist Youth League.

Recently, the former site of Peking University Second Hospital was listed as a "Beijing Regional Museum" and officially included in the sequence of Beijing museums.

The museum is equipped with the "Great Beginning - Special Exhibition on the Early Organizations of the Communist Party of China" with a building area of 1430 square meters, an exhibition area of 835 square meters, and 472 exhibits, including a large number of replicas of cultural relics, archives, pictures, oil paintings, scene restorations, and art installations, showcasing the brewing, development and growth process of the early organizations of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, and focusing on the dissemination of Marxism, the cultivation of revolutionary youth, the guidance of progressive societies, and the help in establishing party organizations in major northern cities.

Address: No. 55 and No. 59 Shatan Hou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing