Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall

Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall

The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a Classic Red Tourism Destination, and a Patriotic Education Base.

The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall was established to commemorate the significant historical event of the successful conclusion of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Nanhu Lake and to preserve the historic site of the Congress in Jiaxing’s Nanhu Lake. In 1960, under the direct care of the Party Central Committee and the Zhejiang Provincial Committee, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall was founded. Initially, it was located on the Lake Heart Island. After China’s reform and opening-up transformation in the 1990s, Nanhu evolved into a tourist scenic area. In 2006, a new building was constructed.

In July 1991, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall, funded by 3.5 million yuan donated by the people of Jiaxing, rose on the eastern shore of Nanhu Lake. It is a modern structure embodying both national style and contemporary spirit. Entering the memorial square, a bright red party flag about 3–4 meters long is inlaid on the southwestern wall, while four torch-shaped flower stands surround the plaza, with four smaller flower stands converging toward the center, setting off the square brilliantly with thousands of blooming red flowers. Looking up at the memorial from the square, one sees 42 steps symbolizing New China’s journey upward, a porch shaped like a hammer handle stretching toward the sky at the entrance, and six stout granite pillars in front exuding the feeling of towering pillars. Above the door, the seven golden characters “Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall,” inscribed by Comrade [Jiang Zemin], shine brilliantly. The main building, covering an area of 1,820 square meters, features simple yet striking contrasts in color with yellow walls and brown-tinted glass, giving an impression of clarity and brightness.

On the second floor, an exhibition hall shaped like a sickle displays historical materials of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. A model of the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake is placed on a mechanical turntable and continuously rotates within the exhibition hall.

Behind it, on a crimson velvet display wall, is inlaid the inscription by [Deng Xiaoping]: “The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China.” There are over 160 photographs, images, 55 physical objects, a model of the Shanghai First Congress venue, and a large sand table depicting the cityscape of Jiaxing in 1921 and the movements of the Congress delegates in Jiaxing. When visitors finish exploring the secondary exhibition hall on the first floor that focuses on the local history of the Party in Jiaxing and exit through the back door, they are suddenly confronted with two huge glass walls on either side of the memorial that act like a grand screen, reflecting the charming scenery of Nanhu Lake. The Lake Heart Island, just a hundred meters away, along with the Yue Wu Pavilion and the Red Boat, makes one feel as though history and reality are intertwined, and that the Red Boat and the memorial are seamlessly unified. The memorial also periodically hosts temporary exhibitions. In 1994, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall was designated by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee and the Jiaxing Municipal Committee as the “Zhejiang Patriotic Education Base” and Jiaxing’s “Red Education Corridor” (First Stop), respectively. In June 1997, it was recognized by the Publicity Department of the [Communist Party of China] Central Committee as a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base, becoming an important site for revolutionary tradition education and patriotic education, especially for young people.

Originally located inside the Yue Wu Pavilion on the Lake Heart Island of Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall is now situated at the ferry terminal opposite the island. In early 1959, following instructions from the prefectural committee, the Jiaxing County Committee of the [Communist Party of China] established the Preparatory Committee and Office for the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall, with 30,000 yuan in funding allocated by the Ministry of Culture. Since the First Congress was held secretly on a chartered boat disguised as a leisure cruise, and the original boat could not be traced—nor were similar boats still in existence—the initial focus of the preparatory work was to determine the design of the boat used during the meeting. After extensive investigations and interviews, and based on the recollections of veteran boatmen, a model of a single-compartment silk-net boat was made and sent to the central authorities for approval. It was affirmed by [a delegate of the First Congress], leading to the subsequent enlargement and replication of the model. On October 1, 1959, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall was officially established and opened to the public at the Yue Wu Pavilion, exhibiting the commemorative boat and “First Congress historical materials.”

Address: Qiyi Square, Yan Yu Road, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City

Type: Memorial Hall

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0573-82851183

Official Website: http://www.nanhujng.com/

Opening Hours:

8:30-16:30

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Further Reading:

· National First-Class Museum of China