There are rich resources in terms of red culture in Beijing. The stories of revolutionary pioneers are hidden in the museums with collections of cultural relics. Tour these museums to refresh your memory of the great days of the past. Pass the red culture to future generations.
Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
The Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is the only large-scale comprehensive museum in China, dedicated to the history of the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance. It comprises an entrance hall, an exhibition hall, an immersive multimedia hall, and accessory buildings. It is also a group of buildings with rich Chinese ethnic characteristics and modern architecture.
The museum's main collections include historical documents and relevant artefacts regarding the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance (1931-1945). It also collects various cultural relics in terms of Japan's aggression and occupation of Taiwan from 1874. The collection shows historical sides of the past, including military, politics, economics, culture, and society. At present, there are more than 30,000 cultural relics in the museum, including over a hundred first-class cultural relics. The museum has gradually formed its characteristics since its establishment, such as the collection of the cultural relics of the July 7th Incident (also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident), the cultural relics of anti-Japanese war martyrs and generals, the cultural relics of Taiwan compatriots' 50 years of anti-Japanese war of resistance, cultural relics in relevance to Hong Kong and overseas compatriots, Japanese invaders' weapons and equipment, and original special document archives.
Since its establishment in 1987, the museum has launched more than 90 special exhibitions, such as The Exhibition of The History of Taiwan Compatriots' Anti-Japanese War of Resistance and China and World's War of Anti-Facisist. The large-scale exhibition, Great Victory and Historical Contributions, in 2015, was an important part of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War. The exhibition covers 6700 square metres and boasts 1170 photos and 2834 cultural relics in eight themes, namely Resistance in Parts of China, National Resistance, The Pillar of the War, the Japanese Army's Atrocities, The Main Battleground in the East, A Just Cause Attracts Much Support, and The Great Victory. The exhibition presents a panoramic view of the glorious history of the anti-aggression against Japanese imperialism by patriots, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese compatriots, from all nationalities, classes, parties, groups and all walks of life. By displaying scenes, oil paintings, sculptures and films, together with historical pictures and artefacts, it highlights the importance of China being the main battlefield in the East, and its great contribution towards the victory of the Global War against Fascism.
Address: 101, Wanpingcheng Neijie (St), Lu Gou Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing
Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Hall
The Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Hall is located at Xiangshan (mountain) near Xiangshan Park. It boasts thousands of exhibits, pictures and precious video materials, comprehensively presenting the epic revolutionary history of the CPC during their time in Xiangshan, Beijing. The Xiangshan Revolutionary Memorial Hall officially opened to the public on 13th September 2019.
The main exhibition, Laying the Foundation for a new China-the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (the CPC) in Xiangshan, is divided into five sections, namely Entering Beijing for the "Exam", Arriving in Xiangshan, Continuing to Command the Liberation of China, The Preparation of the New China, and Remaining True to the Original Aspiration and the Party's Founding Mission and Fight Relentlessly for the Mission. The exhibition vividly presents the brilliant history of the development of New China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
There is a special exhibit in the museum, namely a Dodge Jeep. It is the same model that Mao Zedong used to take in 1949, leading the central authorities from Xibaipo (a town) towards Beiping (the historical name of Beijing). On the 23rd of March 1949, Mao Zedong led the central authorities from Xibaipo to Beiping. At that time, there was a huge convoy of 11 small and medium-sized Jeeps and 10 trucks ready to depart on the edge of the village in Xibaipo, while Mao Zedong was seated in the second Jeep in the convoy. The roads to Beiping were rough. The air was full of dust when cars passed through. However, Chairman Mao was unaware of this, because he desired to build a new China. It was by this Jeep that Chairman Man began his journey to Beijing for the "exam".
Address: Courtyard No.1, Hongfeng Lu (Rd), Haidian District, Beijing
Changxindian Erqi Memorial Hall
The Erqi Strike (the February 7th Strike) was the peak of the first labour movement. It was a great political strike for freedom, anti-imperialism, and anti-feudal warlords by the Beijing-Hankou Railway workers under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (the CPC) and the secretary department of the Chinese Labour Union. Despite the strike's failure, it gives lessons and experiences and puts its stamp on the glorious history of the labour movement.
The museum was established in Beijing in 1983, to commemorate this great labour movement in the history of China.
The special themed exhibition, The Red Star in the North-Changxindian and The Chinese Labour Movement, presents the revolutionary activities of revolutionary pioneers, such as Li Dazhao, Mao Zedong, and Deng Zhongxia, in their early years in Changxindian. Based on the storyline of the development and the historical events of the labour movement, the exhibition realises the progress of the integration of Marxism and the labour movement. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of China's early labour movement in China's revolution and the unique contribution of Changxindian as the cradle of the labour movement in the north of China.
Address: Jia 15, Huayuan Nanli, Changxindian (Community), Fengtai District, Beijing
Beijing Lu Xun Museum (The New Culture Movement Memorial Hall of Beijing)
The Beijing Lu Xun Museum (The New Culture Movement Memorial Hall of Beijing) was established in July 2014. It comprises the former Beijing Lu Xun Museum and the New Culture Movement Memorial Hall of Beijing.
The Beijing Lu Xun Museum is at 19, Gongmenkou Ertiao (St), Fuchengmen, Xicheng District, featuring Luxun's former residence and the Exhibition of Lu Xun. The former residence was designed and converted by Lu Xun himself after he bought the property in the spring of 1924. It is also the most-complete residence of Lu Xun preserved in Beijing, where he wrote three collections of essays, namely Hua Gai Ji (Sous Le Dais Fleuri), Huai Gai Xu Ji (Toujours Sous Le Dais Fleuri), Ye Cao (Wild Grass), and some episodes of Pang Huang (Wandering), Zhao Hua Xi Shi (Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk), and Fen (Grave).
The New Culture Movement Memorial Hall of Beijing is at 29 Wusi Dajie (St), Dongcheng District. It is a quasi-museum of a historical site, established on the former site of the Red Building of Peking University. It is the only comprehensive memorial hall that presents the history of the May 4th New Culture Movement. The Red Building at Peking University is a modern architecture with a glorious revolutionary tradition. It got its name from the red bricks and tiles it was built with. It was the No. 1 campus of Peking University for art and law courses. The museum officially opened to the public in April 2024. The exhibits and display in the museum aim to recover the original layout of the Red Building during the New Culture Movement. The display has recovered its many original layouts, including the head librarian's room, The Renaissance Magazine, the second reading room, the student hall, the fourteenth library, the Headmaster's room and the office, the room of the Dean of arts, the faculty lounge for the lectures of arts, and the gate of the Red Building. The exhibitions, such as The New Voice in the New Era-The Display of the New Culture Movement, Stay True to the Original Aspiration-The Exhibition of the Propaganda of Marxism in Early China, and the special themed exhibitions of Cai Yuanpei, Chen Duxiu, Hu Shi, comprehensively present the working scenes when Li Daozhao, Chen Duxiu, Cai Yuanpei, Mao Zedong and other pioneers were in the Red Building. It also highlights the historical atmosphere of the Red Building during the time of the New Culture Movement.
The museum boasts a collection of 70,000 cultural relics and books, 759 of which are first-class cultural relics. The main collection includes Lu Xun's manuscripts, books, paintings, and letters from his friends, the items left by historical figures, such as Xu Guangping, Zhou Zuoren, Zhou JIanren, Zhang Taiyan, Qian Xuantong, Qu Qiubai, Xiao Jun, and Xiao Hong. It also includes many kinds of literature, research, Modern Chinese Literature Studies, and periodicals, written, translated, compiled, and edited by Lu Xun, a huge amount of domestic and international masterpieces of paintings, and paintings by Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, and Wu Guanzhong.
Address: 19, Gongmenkou Ertiao (St), Fuchengmen, Xicheng District, Beijing, 29 Wusi Dajie (St), Dongcheng District, Beijing
