Former Residence at Shuangqing Villa

Shuangqing Villa

Shuangqing Villa is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism destination, and a base for patriotic education.

Shuangqing Villa in Fragrant Hills is situated on the mountainside of the southern part of Fragrant Hills Park. With its elegant surroundings, it attracts visitors with its lush bamboo groves, shady ginkgo trees, towering pines and cypresses, and quaint architecture. However, what truly made this place world-famous is not its beautiful scenery, but because it was once the residence of Chairman Mao, the command center of the 0 Central Committee, and the site where major events that altered the fate and determined the future of China took place. In 1994, Shuangqing Villa was designated as a “Beijing Youth Education Base.”

On March 25, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong led the 0 Central Committee and the headquarters of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army from Xibaipo Village, Pingshan County, Hebei Province, to Beiping (now Beijing), taking up residence in Fragrant Hills. Chairman Mao stayed at Shuangqing Villa, while Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi stayed at the nearby Laiqing Pavilion. From then on, Shuangqing Villa in Fragrant Hills became the first stop in China’s revolutionary journey from rural bases to urban centers. Here, Mao and his comrades-in-arms directed the world-famous Crossing of the Yangtze River Campaign, completing the great advance to liberate all of China; they prepared for the convening of the new Political Consultative Conference and the establishment of New China; and Mao wrote many important documents and timeless poems during this time.

In 1974, the Beijing Municipal Government allocated special funds to rebuild Shuangqing Villa. Between 1976 and 1986, Fragrant Hills Park gradually collected some of the items used by Chairman Mao during his stay at Shuangqing Villa, along with related photos and materials. After systematic preparation, the “Shuangqing Revolutionary History Exhibition” was held in October at Shuangqing Villa. In 1992, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Chairman Mao’s birth, the Beijing Municipal Committee instructed that an exhibition titled “Mao Zedong at Shuangqing” be held at Shuangqing Villa. After two years of preparation, the preview of the “Mao Zedong at Shuangqing” exhibition was opened to the public on July 1, 1993, to widely solicit feedback from all sectors of society, followed by continued revisions, improvements, and additions. On October 24, 1994, the “Mao Zedong at Shuangqing” exhibition was listed as one of Beijing’s second batch of youth education demonstration bases.

The Shuangqing Villa exhibition is divided into two main parts: “Mao Zedong at Shuangqing” and “Exhibition of Mao Zedong’s Activities at Shuangqing.” The first part is a physical display that recreates the living and working conditions of Mao at Shuangqing Villa in its historical original form. The second part is a pictorial and textual exhibition, divided into three sections: From Xibaipo to Shuangqing in Beiping; Mao Zedong at Shuangqing; and Leaders’ Lives in Fragrant Hills. This exhibition room provides a detailed reflection, both temporally and spatially, of the immortal achievements created by Mao and other central leaders during the crucial historical period when China’s revolution was nearing success and advancing nationwide, offering profound education and inspiration for future generations.

Since the opening of the “Mao Zedong at Shuangqing” exhibition in 1993, Shuangqing Villa has received millions of visitors and hosted thousands of groups from government agencies, enterprises, schools, and more, playing an important role in promoting patriotic education and national spirit. On special commemorative days such as “Youth Day” on May 4, “Party Founding Day” on July 1, “Army Day” on August 1, and “National Day” on October 1, schools and social groups often organize themed party and league activities here, yielding positive social effects.

On May 21, 2009, Shuangqing Villa in Fragrant Hills was elevated to the fourth batch of National Patriotic Education Demonstration Bases. Taking this opportunity, Fragrant Hills Park will further intensify construction and maintenance efforts, enrich exhibition content, explore red cultural resources, and enhance patriotic practice activities, making Shuangqing Villa an important site for inheriting revolutionary traditions, following in the footsteps of great leaders, cultivating patriotism, and refining moral character.

On October 7, 2019, Shuangqing Villa in Fragrant Hills was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: Inside Jingyi Garden, Fragrant Hills Park, No. 40 Mai Mai Street, Haidian District, Beijing

Type: Memorial Hall

Recommended Visiting Time: About 20 minutes

Opening Hours:

Open according to the schedule of Fragrant Hills Park

Ticket Information:

Free entry. Included in the Fragrant Hills Park ticket

Information Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), courtesy name Runzhi (originally Yongzhi, later changed to Runzhi), pen name Ziren. Native of Xiangtan, Hunan. Leader of the Chinese people, Marxist, great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist, principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and the People’s Republic of China, poet, and calligrapher. From 1949 to 1976, Mao served as the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China. His contributions to the development of Marxism-Leninism, military theory, and... More details on Mao Zedong++

Born on December 1, 1886, courtesy name Yujie. Native of Yilong, Sichuan. In 1909, he enrolled in the Yunnan Military Academy and joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance the same year. Participated in the Xinhai Revolution. After 1913, he served in the Yunnan Army as a battalion commander, deputy regimental commander, regimental commander, and brigade commander. Took part in the National Protection War and the 0 War. In 1922, he went to Germany to study and joined the Communist Party of China the same year. In 1925, he went to the Soviet Union to study military science and returned to China the following year.

In 1927, he founded the Officers Training Corps of the Third Army of the National Revolutionary Army in Nanchang and participated in leading the Nanchang Uprising on August 1, serving as deputy commander of the Ninth Army of the uprising forces. In 192... More details on Zhu De++

One of the principal leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China, an outstanding Chinese revolutionary, politician, and theorist.

Born on November 24, 1898, in Ningxiang County, Hunan Province. Attended a traditional Chinese private school in his youth and graduated from middle school in 1919. Joined the Socialist Youth League of China in 1920.

In 1921, he went to the Moscow Oriental Higher Party School in the Soviet Union and joined the Communist Party of China the same year. Returned to China from Moscow in 1922 and worked at the All-China Labor Secretariat. Soon after, he went to northwestern Jiangxi Province... More details on Liu Shaoqi++

Zhou Enlai was a Marxist, proletarian revolutionary, politician, military strategist, and diplomat. He was one of the principal leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China, one of the founders of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and Premier of the People’s Republic of China (1949–1976). Originally from Shaoxing, Zhejiang, he was born in Huai’an, Jiangsu. In 1917, after graduating from Nankai School in Tianjin, he went to Japan to study. He returned to China in 1919, entered Nankai University in September, and became a student leader in Tianjin during the May Fourth Movement. Together with other activists, he co-founded the progressive group Awakening Society... More details on Zhou Enlai++

Ren Bishi was a great Marxist, outstanding proletarian revolutionary, politician, and organizer. He was an eminent leader of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and an important member of the first generation of collective leadership of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core.

Joined the Socialist Youth League of China in August 1920. Joined the Communist Party of China in early 1922. In July 1925, he became General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. In May 1927, he was elected as a member of the Central Committee at the Fifth National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

After the breakdown of the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation, on August 7, 1927, he attended the... More details on Ren Bishi++

Further Reading:

·The Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

·The Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units