Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic

Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic

The site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic is a classic red tourism attraction.

The site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic was originally the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, which has a history of several hundred years. It served as the birthplace and the seat of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic from November 1931 to April 1933. On November 7, 1931, the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic was grandly convened here. A total of 610 delegates attended the congress, including Red Army forces from revolutionary bases such as Western Fujian, Northeastern Jiangxi, Hunan-Jiangxi, Western Hunan-Hubei, Qiongya, and the Central Soviet Area, as well as representatives from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the National Seamen’s Federation operating in the areas controlled by the Kuomintang.

The Central People’s Government Council was the highest administrative body, comprising nine ministries—Foreign Affairs, Military Affairs, Land, Internal Affairs, Finance, Education, Justice, Labor, and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection—as well as the State Political Security Bureau. After the congress, the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall was partitioned into 15 rooms with wooden boards to serve as offices for the various ministries, while the main hall became the seat of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic. Here, the Chinese Soviet Government was born as a national political authority for the first time, existing in opposition to the then “Nationalist Government.” It “became the guide and organizer of the national workers’ and peasants’ revolutionary movement,” “heralded the nationwide victory and establishment of China’s workers’ and peasants’ democratic government,” and “marked the prelude to the creation of a new Chinese society.” Within these humble offices, the cadres of the Soviet areas at the time accomplished first-class work.

After April 1933, when the Provisional Central Government relocated to Shazhouba, many important meetings continued to be held in the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, such as the Land Investigation Movement Conference for responsible officials from eight counties and districts, the Congress of Poor Peasants’ Associations from eight counties, the Economic Construction Conference for seventeen southern counties of the Central Soviet Area, and the Election Movement Conference for eighteen southern counties of the Central Soviet Area.

After the main force of the Central Red Army embarked on the Long March, this historic site was not demolished by the enemy. After the liberation, it was restored and opened to the public according to the scene of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic and the original appearance of the Provisional Central Government. On March 4, 1961, it was designated by the State Council as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The site was originally the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, which has a history of several hundred years. It served as the birthplace and the seat of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic from November 1931 to April 1933. On November 7, 1931, the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic was grandly convened here. A total of 610 delegates attended the congress, including Red Army forces from revolutionary bases such as Western Fujian, Northeastern Jiangxi, Hunan-Jiangxi, Western Hunan-Hubei, Qiongya, and the Central Soviet Area, as well as representatives from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the National Seamen’s Federation operating in the areas controlled by the Kuomintang.

The Central People’s Government Council was the highest administrative body, comprising nine ministries—Foreign Affairs, Military Affairs, Land, Internal Affairs, Finance, Education, Justice, Labor, and Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection—as well as the State Political Security Bureau. After the congress, the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall was partitioned into 15 rooms with wooden boards to serve as offices for the various ministries, while the main hall became the seat of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic. Here, the Chinese Soviet Government was born as a national political authority for the first time, existing in opposition to the then “Nationalist Government.” It “became the guide and organizer of the national workers’ and peasants’ revolutionary movement,” “heralded the nationwide victory and establishment of China’s workers’ and peasants’ democratic government,” and “marked the prelude to the creation of a new Chinese society.” Within these humble offices, the cadres of the Soviet areas at the time accomplished first-class work.

After April 1933, when the Provisional Central Government relocated to Shazhouba, many important meetings continued to be held in the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, such as the Land Investigation Movement Conference for responsible officials from eight counties and districts, the Congress of Poor Peasants’ Associations from eight counties, the Economic Construction Conference for seventeen southern counties of the Central Soviet Area, and the Election Movement Conference for eighteen southern counties of the Central Soviet Area.

After the main force of the Central Red Army embarked on the Long March, this historic site was not demolished by the enemy. After the liberation, it was restored and opened to the public according to the scene of the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic and the original appearance of the Provisional Central Government. On March 4, 1961, it was designated by the State Council as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.