Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum

Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum

The Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum was built in 1983 to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the victory of the Lixia Festival Uprising. It covers an area of 8,000 square meters, with an exhibition space of 3,750 square meters, displaying over 1,200 revolutionary historical relics. The front of the main building is inlaid with eight large characters personally inscribed by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, reading “Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum.” The museum's exhibitions are divided into seven sections: the Preface Hall, the Revolutionary History Exhibition, the Generals’ Exhibition, the Exhibition on the Life and Deeds of Hong Xuezhi, the Jinzhai Celebrity Exhibition, the Martyrs’ Exhibition, and Today’s Jinzhai.

The front of the Preface Hall displays calligraphy from Party and state leaders such as Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Liu Bocheng, Li Xiannian, Xu Xiangqian, and Hong Xuezhi, as well as a large relief sculpture titled "Following the Path of Armed Agrarian Revolution." On both sides are relief sculptures of the flags of the eleven main Red Army units born and formed in Jinzhai, along with an electronic illustration of historical events.

The Revolutionary History Hall presents the county’s revolutionary history from 1921 to 1949 through four periods, with thematic groupings that combine text and artifacts to provide a vivid portrayal. The founding of the Party and the Great Revolution period showcases the establishment of the Communist Party in Jinzhai and the rise of the peasant movement, reflecting how the suffering people of old China began to awaken to revolution under the guidance of the Communist Party, their savior. The Agrarian Revolutionary War period displays the Lixia Festival Uprising and the Lu-Huo Uprising, the establishment of the 32nd and 33rd Divisions of the Red 11th Army, the creation of revolutionary bases in southeastern Henan and western Anhui, the formation of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area, the victories in the three anti-encirclement campaigns, and the strategic relocation of the main Red Army forces, as well as the creation and rebuilding of the Red 25th and 28th Armies. This reflects the path of armed agrarian revolution, showing how the spark of revolution can set the plains ablaze, and fully demonstrates that Jinzhai is the "Home of the Red Army." The Anti-Japanese War period shows how the people of Jinzhai responded to the call to join the New Fourth Army’s 4th Regiment to fight the Japanese in the east, and how the Anhui Provincial Committee of the CPC, centered in Jinzhai, led the anti-Japanese salvation movement in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui border region, reflecting the correctness of the Party’s comprehensive anti-Japanese resistance line and the policy of independence and self-reliance. The Liberation War period exhibits the advance of the Liu-Deng Army into the Dabie Mountains to rebuild the revolutionary base and usher in nationwide liberation, reflecting how “Overthrow Chiang Kai-shek and liberate all of China” was an unstoppable historical trend.

The Generals’ Exhibition Hall highlights the remarkable military achievements of 59 generals from Jinzhai who were founding generals of the People’s Republic, and also showcases their important contributions in various fields during socialist modernization, fully demonstrating that Jinzhai is the "Cradle of Generals."

The Exhibition Hall on the Life and Deeds of General Hong Xuezhi displays the accomplishments of the only general to be awarded the rank of General of the People’s Republic twice.

The Jinzhai Celebrity Hall exhibits revolutionary historical figures from Jinzhai, with a focus on introducing Wang Ming and Jiang Guangci, notable revolutionary figures from the county. It also provides a comprehensive and detailed showcase of the glorious achievements of provincial/ministerial-level and above leading cadres and notable individuals from various fields in the county, inspiring young people to cultivate their character, aspire to excellence, and serve the motherland.

The Martyrs’ Hall displays the names and deeds of the revolutionary martyrs of Jinzhai County. During the revolutionary war years, 100,000 sons and daughters of Jinzhai enthusiastically joined the army, most of whom sacrificed their lives for the country. After the liberation, more than 11,000 were posthumously recognized as revolutionary martyrs, accounting for one-fifth of the total number of martyrs in Anhui Province. Among them, notable martyrs such as Jiang Guangci, Zhan Gutang, Zhou Weijiong, Liu Renfu, and Shen Zhonghua demonstrated heroic bravery and noble revolutionary spirit, which have been widely celebrated in the old revolutionary base areas, inspiring generation after generation to serve the motherland. The hall also displays martyrs from the new era, such as Liu Xiaosong.

The Today’s Jinzhai Hall showcases the outstanding achievements of Jinzhai in industry, agriculture, urban development, tourism, infrastructure, and social programs since the founding of the People’s Republic; it fully reflects the struggle and spirit of the people in the old revolutionary base area in “catching up, leaping forward, and striving to rise.”

With the high attention of departments at all levels, the quality of the Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum has been continuously improved. In 1989, it was listed by the Anhui Provincial Government as a key protected unit of martyrs’ memorial buildings. In 1995, the Ministry of Civil Affairs designated it as one of the first 100 “Patriotic Education Bases” in the country. In the same year, it was listed by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League as a “National Youth Education Base.” The Nanjing Military Region and military units and academies stationed in Anhui successively designated it as a “Patriotic Education Base for Young Soldiers” and a “National Defense Education Base.” In 1996, the State Council announced the Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum as a “National Key Protected Unit of Martyrs’ Buildings.” In 2005, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee declared it a “National Defense Education Demonstration Base.” Over 20 colleges and universities inside and outside the province have designated it as a patriotic education base. Since its establishment, the museum has received nearly 3 million visitors. It has also become one of the country’s important centers for red culture research.

At the end of 2009, with the care and support of higher-level departments and the county Party committee and government, the Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum was officially upgraded to a national 4A-level tourist attraction as part of the national red tourism scenic area. Admission is free.

In 2011, with the care of leaders at all levels and the joint efforts of all museum staff, the Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum won another honor, being named a “National Advanced Unit in Red Tourism.”

The Jinzhai County Revolutionary Museum will continue to work hard, strengthen its foundations, strive for excellence, further enhance its management and service standards, and fulfill its responsibilities as a patriotic education base.

Further Reading:

· National Third-Class Museum of China