Commemorative Pavilion of the Founding of the CPC Donghai Special Branch on White Tiger Mountain

Commemorative Pavilion of the Founding of the CPC Donghai Special Branch on White Tiger Mountain

The Commemorative Pavilion of the Founding of the CPC Donghai Special Branch on White Tiger Mountain is a classic red tourism attraction.

There is a large mountain outside the southern gate of Haizhou. Due to its grayish-white appearance and shape resembling a crouching tiger, it is called “White Tiger Mountain.” In 1927, the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China designated the four counties of Donghai, Guanyun, Ganyu, and Shuyang, located along the coast of the Yellow Sea, as the “Donghai District.” In the autumn of 1928, the provincial committee transferred Li Zhenhua (also known as Li Chaoshi), Secretary of the Executive Committee of the CPC Pizhou County Special Branch, to Haizhou to re-establish the Party organization there. On a Sunday, Li Zhenhua, Xiao Ye, and Hui Meiwan (also known as Hui Yuyu) agreed to use a mountain outing as a cover and met under the overhanging rocks of White Tiger Mountain to establish the Executive Committee of the CPC Donghai Special Branch. Li Zhenhua was appointed secretary, Xiao Ye as the organizational officer, and Hui Meiwan as the propaganda officer. After the establishment of the Special Branch Executive Committee, efforts were made to recruit Party members and establish grassroots Party organizations. By October, a total of 48 Party members had been recruited and four branches established. Subsequently, the Party organizations in the Haizhou region mobilized workers’ and peasants’ movements, women’s movements, and others, dealing heavy blows to the reactionary Kuomintang forces.

In 1997, the Haizhou District Committee of the Communist Party of China called on all Party members to contribute a “special Party fee” to build a commemorative pavilion at the summit of White Tiger Mountain in honor of the founding of the “Donghai Special Branch.” The Commemorative Pavilion of the Founding of the CPC Donghai Special Branch on White Tiger Mountain has become a precious resource for patriotic and communist education in the Haizhou area and even across the city. On major holidays such as May 4th, June 1st, and July 1st each year, batches of children, youths, and young adults gather here to hold ceremonies for joining the Young Pioneers, the Communist Youth League, and the Communist Party, paying tribute to the great achievements of the martyrs.

Source: Party History Research Office of the CPC Lianyungang Municipal Committee