Former Site of Weidou Primary School

Former Site of Weidou Primary School

The former site of Weidou Primary School is a cultural heritage site protected at the district level in Beilun.

The former site of Weidou Primary School is located at No. 45 Zhijie, Xiaogang Subdistrict, Beilun District, Ningbo City. It was designated as a district-level cultural heritage site by the local government in 1990.

Weidou Primary School was founded in 1927 by Tang Ailu and later became an elementary school dedicated to fostering patriotism. It came to be known as the “red fortress” standing at Jiaomen. After relocating in 1931, the school gradually built up a faculty led by Communist Party members, placing special emphasis on patriotism and revolutionary ideals among students. In 1932, during the January 28th Shanghai Incident, teachers at Weidou Primary School, under the leadership of CPC members such as Zhou Mingyu, Yan Jiping, and Wu Peining—veterans of the earlier revolutionary movement—organized anti-Japanese speeches outside the campus. Students shouted anti-Japanese slogans on their way home from school and initiated fundraising efforts to support the valiant 19th Route Army. By 1936, on the eve of the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the anti-Japanese salvation activities of the school’s teachers and students had reached a climax. In April, the publication of the mimeographed newsletter Zhenhai Voice, which carried content opposing civil war and advocating united resistance against Japan, greatly alarmed reactionary forces. On June 19, the Nationalist government arrested six teachers from Weidou Primary School: Wang Jie, He Haoqun, Zhang Qiande, Le Peiwen, Yang Nenggang, and Wu Xuanqing. The next day, senior students broke through the blockade, crossed the river, and marched in formation to the county government headquarters, shouting slogans along the way such as “Patriotism is not a crime, give us back our teachers!” The patriotic fervor of Weidou Primary School shook Zhenhai. After efforts by school board member Tang Ailu and principal Le Sizhong, coupled with public pressure, the arrested teachers were released. Following the June 19th Incident, the Nationalist county party committee attempted to take over the school, but this was firmly rejected by Mr. Tang Ailu. Under the leadership of comrades like Zhuo Ziying, Weidou Primary School continued its patriotic and progressive activities. In February 1938, under the attention of the CPC Ningbo Committee, organizational ties were restored for veteran members such as Zhuo Ziying and Shi Ruoyu, and the Weidou Primary School CPC Branch was established. In August of the same year, directly under the leadership of the CPC Ningbo Committee, the CPC Zhenhai County Working Committee was formed with Zhuo Ziying as secretary, and its office was located right inside Weidou Primary School. The site is a modern building of brick-and-wood composite construction, consisting of two courtyards covering a total area of 1,624 square meters with a built-up area of 576 square meters. The first courtyard houses five rooms used as teachers’ offices, while the second contains 19 classrooms. The structure is well-preserved today, with the teachers’ office now serving as an exhibition room for the school’s history.

The former site of Weidou Primary School is a revolutionary landmark in the Beilun area of significant commemorative, educational, and historical value.