Danyang Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall

Danyang Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall

The Danyang Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall serves as a patriotic education base.

The Danyang Revolutionary Exhibition Hall is located at No. 36 Huayuan Road. Its name was inscribed by Comrade Guan Wenwei, former member of the Standing Committee of the 6th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a renowned general of the New Fourth Army. It officially opened to the public in October 1999 and has been designated as a patriotic education base by both the Zhenjiang Municipal Party Committee and the Danyang Municipal Party Committee. It is also the only patriotic education memorial venue within the Zhenjiang regional Party history system, receiving nearly 30,000 visitors annually. Currently, 15 schools or organizations have established the exhibition hall as a moral education base.

The exhibition hall has a total floor area of 1,268 square meters, divided into two levels. The second floor houses the exhibition on the revolutionary struggle history of the Danyang people, displaying over 640 historical photos and charts from various periods, as well as more than 200 cultural relics.

In the center of the main hall on the second floor, Deng Xiaoping’s inscription — “Use the deeds of the revolution to educate our descendants: to always be revolutionaries like our predecessors and martyrs, to always be socialists serving the collective cause of the people, and to always be communists” — shines brilliantly in gold, fully reflecting the purpose and mission of exhibiting the revolutionary struggle history of Danyang. On both sides of the hall are two woodcut decorative paintings depicting the revolutionary struggle history of Danyang and the achievements of modern construction. At the entrance, there are six acrylic watercolor murals illustrating key moments: the May Fourth Movement, welcoming the Northern Expedition, the Autumn Harvest Uprising, resisting the Japanese invaders, supporting the army and the frontline, and advancing into southern Jiangnan, vividly presenting the main themes and outline of Danyang’s revolutionary struggle. Two glass-engraved pine trees symbolize the great achievements of the revolutionary predecessors.

Part One: The Period of Party Founding and the Great Revolution

Historical Background: After the outbreak of the May Fourth Movement in 1919 and the founding of the Communist Party of China in July 1921, progressive youth and intellectuals in Danyang actively promoted the New Culture Movement and spread Marxism-Leninism. In April 1925, Yun Daiying and others introduced progressive youths from Danyang — Dai Pentian, Huang Jingsi, Xia Lin, Qian Zhengbiao, and Wu Qiwen — to join the Communist Party, establishing the first Danyang Party branch. It led the people in actively engaging in the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal Great Revolution. In April 1927, after the Kuomintang reactionaries led by Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution, Danyang Communists and revolutionary masses, undaunted by the perilous environment, wiped away the blood of their martyrs and bravely returned to the fight. In May 1927, the Provisional County Committee of the CPC Danyang was established, and in July it was reorganized into a formal county committee, which for the first time explicitly put forward the slogan “Overthrow the Kuomintang,” expanding party organizations into rural areas. During this time, Danyang produced a number of Communists who devoted themselves fearlessly to the revolution, such as Huang Jingsi, Xia Lin, and Zhang Liansheng. Danyang became one of the counties in Jiangsu and even the whole country that established Communist Party organizations relatively early, making outstanding contributions to the revolutionary cause in the Jiangsu region.

Part Two: The Period of the Agrarian Revolutionary War

In August 1927, after the August 7th Meeting held by the CPC Central Committee in Wuhan, the Danyang County Committee earnestly implemented the directives of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee and engaged in a life-and-death struggle against the Kuomintang reactionaries. Uprisings such as the Autumn Harvest Uprising in places like Huqiao and Lizhuang were launched, igniting the flames of resistance against the Kuomintang reactionaries and feudal forces. Xia Lin, then a member of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC and a provincial inspector, fought alongside Wang Ruofei, leading the peasant uprising in the northeast of Wuxi. Unfortunately, Xia Lin was captured and heroically executed. At the execution ground, he stood upright and unafraid, shouting “Long live the victory of communism!” even as he was being executed. His heartfelt words to his comrades in prison — “When we joined the Party, we were prepared to sacrifice. If you don’t sacrifice, and I don’t sacrifice, then who will?” — inspired the resolve of countless revolutionaries.

Part Three: The Period of the Anti-Japanese War

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, the people of Danyang organized anti-Japanese self-defense forces, united in hatred of the enemy, and joined the national resistance. In June 1938, Chen Yi, Su Yu, Zhang Dingcheng, and others led the New Fourth Army into the enemy’s rear in southern Jiangsu, establishing the anti-Japanese guerrilla base centered around Maoshan in southern Jiangsu. Under the leadership and organization of the Party and the New Fourth Army, the people of Danyang engaged in anti-sweeping and anti-“pacification” struggles, making extraordinary contributions to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. During this period, Danyang produced a number of renowned anti-Japanese figures, such as the three Guan brothers (Guan Wenwei, etc.), Mei Jiasheng, and Wei Yongyi. Chen Yi, commander of the First Detachment of the New Fourth Army, Su Yu, deputy commander of the Second Detachment, and Tan Zhenlin left indelible footprints in Danyang. Danyang became a bridge and hub for the New Fourth Army’s eastward and northward advances, contributing to the implementation of the CPC Central Committee’s strategic directive to “fight eastward, consolidate southward, and develop northward,” and together with the people of the whole country, secured victory in the War of Resistance.

Part Four: The Period of the Nationwide Liberation War

After the victory in the War of Resistance, the Kuomintang reversed course and launched a full-scale civil war. Under the leadership of the Communist Party and the cadres who remained behind, the people of Danyang continued their unyielding struggle against the Kuomintang reactionaries until the nationwide liberation. During this period, the Communists and revolutionary masses in Danyang demonstrated firm communist beliefs, unwavering loyalty, and unyielding spirit, resolutely fighting the Kuomintang reactionaries until the end. A number of Communists, including Zhang Zhongying, Yu Shen, and Huan Desheng, devoted their lives to the great communist cause. After three and a half years of arduous struggle, the victory of the Liberation War was finally achieved.

Part Five: The General Front Committee and East China Bureau in Danyang

After the liberation of Danyang on April 23, 1949, the General Front Committee, East China Bureau, and East China Military Region, led by Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, and others, moved into Danyang County and its suburbs. Danyang suddenly hosted six members and two alternate members of the 7th CPC Central Committee, along with over 30,000 elites from various sectors including the Party, government, and military. After their arrival, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yi, the General Front Committee and East China Bureau planned intensively and worked tirelessly to implement the “Battle of Jing-Jin-Hang,” liberating and taking over Shanghai. This added a glorious chapter to the revolutionary struggle history of the people of Danyang.

The first floor of the exhibition hall serves as an activity space for various thematic exhibitions or patriotic education events. Currently, it is hosting the “Exhibition of Comrade Guan Wenwei’s Life and Photos.”