Former Site of the CPC Western Fujian Special Committee (Shuhuai Hall)

Former Site of the CPC Western Fujian Special Committee (Shuhuai Hall)

The former site of the CPC Western Fujian Special Committee (Shuhuai Hall) is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province and a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the CPC Western Fujian Special Committee, Shuhuai Hall, is located in Sujia Village, Gutian, Shanghang. It was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The entire structure faces east and is seven bays wide and six bays deep, constructed with brick and wood, featuring a clay-tamped floor. It covers a construction area of 672 square meters and a site area of 1,100 square meters. The layout consists of one main building and two side wings. The main building is divided into front, middle, and rear halls, with the rear hall being a two-story structure. Both the middle and rear halls have side rooms on the left and right; the two side wings are protective rooms on the north and south sides.

In October 1929, the CPC Western Fujian Special Committee relocated from Shanghang to Sujia Village, setting up its headquarters in Shuhuai Hall. From there, it led various tasks of the local party in Western Fujian, conducted land revolution struggles, assisted the Fourth Red Army, and continued its work until March 1930, making significant contributions to establishing and consolidating the revolutionary base in Western Fujian.

Mao Zedong, who came to Sujia Village with the Special Committee, and his wife He Zizhen, lived in a small room on the left side of the rear hall of Shuhuai Hall. In this small room, while recovering from malaria, Mao represented the Front Committee of the Fourth Red Army in guiding the work of the Western Fujian Special Committee. He lived and worked here for over 40 days. Using the alias “Mr. Yang,” he often went into the countryside to conduct research, identify problems, and solve them.

To help the people of Sujia Village achieve cultural advancement, Mao founded a “Commoners’ Primary School” in the rear hall of Shuhuai Hall. He personally wrote teaching materials and taught classes despite his busy schedule. Concerned about the hardships of the people, many touching stories about Mao are still passed down among the residents of Sujia Village.

One day, Mao learned that Yang Dongdong, the cook for the Special Committee, had given the family’s only quilt to her son who joined the Red Guards, leaving herself with only a palm-fiber coat to sleep under. Mao gave her one of his military blankets, which deeply moved her. When Mao left Sujia Village to return to the Fourth Red Army, he also left the cotton padding that had been purchased for his health to a local poor peasant.

The virtues of “Mr. Yang” were widely celebrated among the people of Sujia Village.

During his time in Sujia Village, Mao paid close attention to the early Party school of our Party— the Cadre Training Class for the Three Provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi—located not far from Shuhuai Hall in “Hongyutang.” In addition to regularly inquiring about the class’s progress, he personally lectured the students on Marxism-Leninism.

One day, during a conversation with Deng Zihui, Secretary of the Western Fujian Special Committee, Mao asked, “Comrade Zihui, what do you think is the task of a leader?” Deng Zihui was momentarily at a loss for an answer. Mao patiently explained, “In my view, the task of a leader is to be a ‘messenger’ for the people.” He added that being a good messenger is no easy task—it requires promptly reflecting the opinions and needs of the majority of the people to the Party and government bodies, then summarizing and analyzing them to make appropriate decisions, and finally conveying those decisions to the people for implementation. Deng Zihui found this perspective very reasonable, targeted, and creative, so he publicly shared Mao’s ideas at a Special Committee meeting. Later, the Special Committee quickly disseminated these ideas to the Party and government departments of all counties in Western Fujian, educating the leadership and changing the bureaucratic work style of the time, thereby further strengthening the relationship between the Party and the people.

On the mountainside to the right of Shuhuai Hall lies a natural cave—Zhenbei Cave. The cave remains cool in summer and warm in winter, with a fresh and tranquil environment. It was where Mao rested and read during his time there. Locals now call it the “Chairman’s Cave.”

In May 2005, the People’s Government of Fujian Province designated Shuhuai Hall as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in the sixth batch.

Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), courtesy name Runzhi (originally Yongzhi, later changed to Runzhi), pen name Ziren. A native of Xiangtan, Hunan. He was the leader of the Chinese people, a Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist, as well as a principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and the People’s Republic of China. He was also a poet and calligrapher. From 1949 to 1976, Mao served as the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China. His contributions to the development of Marxism-Leninism, military theory, and... Mao Zedong detailed information++

Deng Zihui, originally named Shaoji, was born on August 17, 1896, in Dengcu Village, Dongxiao Town. His father, Deng Hongbi, was a doctor by profession and later served as the principal of Tonggang Primary School. Deng Zihui attended Tonggang Primary School in his childhood and enrolled in Longyan Middle School (later renamed Provincial No. 9 Middle School) at the age of seventeen. In the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), he organized and delivered speeches protesting Yuan Shikai’s acceptance of Japan’s humiliating “Twenty-One Demands.” That same year, he secretly joined the Chinese Revolutionary Party while in middle school.

In the sixth year of the Republic of China, he qualified for a government-sponsored study-abroad program in Japan with outstanding academic performance. The following May, he participated in the overseas... Deng Zihui detailed information++

Sujia Village: Basic Information on Sujia Village. Located at the border of Xinluo and Shanghang in Gutian Town, Shanghang County, Sujia Village is the site of the former headquarters of the Western Fujian Special Committee of the CPC—“Shuhuai Hall.” It is also one of the city’s pilot villages for building a new socialist countryside. Sujia Village is the only She ethnic minority administrative village in Gutian Town (with the surname Lei). The village has two villager groups, 126 households, and 448 residents. Income sources include farming, breeding, transportation, working, and running businesses. The village currently has 265 acres of arable land and 5,705 acres of forest. In October 1929, the Western Fujian Special Committee of the CPC moved from Shanghang County to Sujia Village. Mao... Sujia Village detailed information++