Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Memorial Hall

Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Memorial Hall

Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Memorial Hall is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Established in 1958, Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Memorial Hall covers an area of 15,470 m². It is a thematic memorial hall that presents the revolutionary site in its original state to showcase Mao Zedong’s revolutionary activities in Caixi. The museum houses over 1,100 collections, including two sites where Mao conducted his Caixi investigations (the Caixi District Soviet Government and the District Trade Union), two revolutionary sites (the Glorious Pavilion and Lenin’s Platform), as well as the Caixi "Nine Armies and Eighteen Divisions" exhibition room. It is a typical Hakka residence with a front square and rear circular layout.

The Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Exhibition Hall consists of 10 exhibition halls, with a total display line of 350 meters. Mao Zedong visited Caixi Township three times to conduct investigations. In late November 1933, Comrade Mao Zedong led a security squad from the Central Communications Platoon to Caixi for an extensive social investigation. This visit took place during the Fifth Counter-"Encirclement and Suppression" Campaign and the anti– struggle. At the time, Wang Ming’s "Left" opportunistic line within the Party was causing increasing damage to the Chinese revolutionary cause, and the revolution was at a critical juncture. To save the Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong traveled a long distance from Ruijin, Jiangxi to Caixi to carry out in-depth social investigations. He sought to understand how the once-backward rural area of the renowned Caixi Township in the Central Soviet Area had been transformed into an advanced revolutionary base. He also aimed to summarize the experiences of the Caixi people in administrative construction, economic development, cultural education, expanding the Red Army, and supporting Red Army families. During the investigation, Mao also inspected the Red Army’s public fields, participated in production labor, renamed the village of Shuaikeng, summarized the innovations of the working people, and wrote the famous "Caixi Township Investigation."

In July 1929, with the support and coordination of the Fourth Red Army, the people of Caixi Township in Shanghang, Fujian Province, launched an armed uprising which succeeded. Subsequently, the Caixi District Soviet Government and the Caixi District Trade Union were established. In late November 1933, in order to summarize and promote the construction experience of the Caixi revolutionary base and to prepare for the Second National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic, Mao Zedong made his third visit to Caixi to conduct extensive and in-depth social investigations.

Mao Zedong held various types of investigation meetings at the District Soviet Government and the District Trade Union. During these meetings, Mao listened to reports from cadres and masses on topics such as the expansion of the Red Army, support for Red Army families, political power construction, production support for the front lines, economic development, cultural education, and price comparisons in Caixi. He also engaged in lively discussions with the participants. After more than ten days of investigation, he wrote the famous "Caixi Township Investigation," addressing the issue that building revolutionary bases under wartime conditions was not only necessary but also possible.

It is now a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base, a National Classic Red Tourism Destination, and one of the 30 premium routes.

In September 2018, upon the decision of the Chinese Museums Association, Mao Zedong's Caixi Township Investigation Memorial Hall was designated as a National Second-Class Museum.

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. He was a principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the People's Republic of China, as well as a poet and calligrapher. From 1949 to 1976, Mao Zedong served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China. His contributions to the development of Marxism-Leninism, military theory, and... More details about Mao Zedong++

Caixi Town: The renowned Shanghang “Caixi” has an interesting evolution of its place name.

Over seven hundred years ago, the Caixi area was dense mountain forests with murmuring streams and plenty of firewood. The earliest settlers, an elderly couple surnamed Liu, called this place “Chaixi” (Firewood Stream). Today, the Liu family’s ancient settlement is referred to by the locals as Yuanjing (“Original Pit”). Yuan means beginning.

Many years later, a merchant surnamed Chen traveling from Yukou Market (now Jiuxian) to Baishi Village (now the county seat of Changting) passed through the deep forests of “Chaixi.” Lost in direction, while hesitating, he squatted by a small stream to drink water when he suddenly noticed something floating in the stream… More details about Caixi Town++

Further Reading:

· China National Second-Class Museum