Pingkuang Workers' Club

Pingkuang Workers' Club

It may be precisely because Mao Zedong visited this place more frequently that he left behind some lesser-known historical quotes and stories derived from them. “Red flags wave across five continents, / Ideals triumph over the whole world.” This couplet is still fully preserved on a building to this day, with its original appearance faintly visible. Reading this historical couplet today still feels very familiar and meaningful. This couplet, first of all, shows how firm the beliefs of the Party members who launched the revolution here were. Because they understood very well the role of ideals in changing the world. Of course, such beliefs were crucial to revolutionary action. Without the pursuit of such ideals and beliefs, without the drive of such thoughts, the workers’ movement would not and could not have developed so magnificently and powerfully. The world—how do you change the world? With thought, with ideals. This has been verified by history and is universally acknowledged by people around the world. Even today, sages and philosophers abroad still say, “Only thought and ideals can change the world.” Yes, the pursuit of ideals, the pursuit of truth, often generates tremendous power to transform the world. China is no exception, and neither was the former Soviet Union. People should have aspirations, should be supported by ideals. Without the pursuit of thought and ideals, without the support of principles, the result is either to remain unknown and inactive, or to go down the opposite path.

That’s why our Party and our military have always emphasized ideals and beliefs, and have consistently focused on guiding everyone to establish correct worldviews, outlooks on life, and values. That’s precisely the reason. Back then, the working class in Anyuan was able to persist in unyielding struggle under those circumstances precisely because they had ideals and had guiding thought.