Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary History of Southern Hebei

Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary History of Southern Hebei

The Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary History of Southern Hebei is a classic site on China's red tourism routes.

The Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary History of Southern Hebei began preparations in 2009 and was fully completed in December 2011. The memorial hall is located in the eastern part of Ren County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province — specifically on the north side of Youya Street and west side of Luzhou Road within the historical and cultural park in Rencheng Town, blending seamlessly with the park’s design. With a total investment of 15 million yuan, the site covers an area of 20,000 square meters, features a building area of 3,000 square meters, a main structure that is 7.6 meters high, and surrounding green space spanning 15,350 square meters, planted with various lawns and trees.

The exhibition halls inside are divided into two sections, displaying over 700 pictures, 2 dioramas of cultural relics, 5 sculptures, and more than 100 artifacts, artistically recreating the heroic deeds of revolutionary martyrs who sought light, joined the revolution, and fought bravely in those years. The Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary History of Southern Hebei is not only a landmark showcasing the rich red cultural heritage of Ren County — a veteran revolutionary base — but also serves as an important base for patriotic education among young people.

The exhibition halls of the memorial are composed of two parts

Exhibition Hall: The Nanchao Uprising and the War of Resistance in Southern Hebei: In the spring of 1935, the Nanchao Uprising began in rural areas such as Liutun and Sizhuang in Ren County. The flames of revolution quickly spread across more than 20 counties in southern Hebei. In January 1936, the "First Division, First Army, First People’s Anti-Japanese and Anti-Chiang Salvation Army of North China" was established. Chiang Kai-shek deployed troops from three armies to carry out a frenzied “suppression campaign.” During the battles, more than 1,500 party members, cadres, soldiers, and revolutionary masses were either killed or captured, with over 400 alone from Ren County. Despite being brutally suppressed by the Kuomintang, the uprising, although ultimately unsuccessful, lasted over a year and supported the Red Army’s eastern expedition against Japan at the time, laying the groundwork for the Eighth Route Army to establish anti-Japanese bases in southern Hebei. This uprising was unprecedented in duration, impact, and significance in North China, marking a glorious chapter in the history of China’s revolutionary struggle.

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, some party members and cadres who had been relocated elsewhere following setbacks in the Nanchao Uprising gradually returned to southern Hebei and joined the fight against Japanese imperialist aggression. In January 1938, the Eighth Route Army’s 129th Division formed an anti-Japanese column under the command of Commander Chen Zaidao and Political Commissar Li Jingyu, beginning the establishment of the anti-Japanese base in southern Hebei. In March 1938, [Name] succeeded Li Jingyu as political commissar of the Eastward-Advancing Column. In April, Chen Zaidao and [Name] led the East Column in operations around areas such as Huanshui Village, Lingnan, Yongfuzhuang, and Tiankou in Xingjiawan, Ren County, to eliminate the notorious bandit Liu Motou, effectively safeguarding the local people’s government within the base. Throughout the war of resistance, many parts of Ren County bear the footprints of Generals Chen Zaidao and [Name]. The Nanchao Uprising and the War of Resistance in Southern Hebei exhibition hall mainly displays the arduous struggle of revolutionary predecessors during the Agrarian Revolutionary War and the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Liu Zihou Memorial Exhibition Hall: Liu Zihou, originally named Liu Wenzhong, was one of the key leaders of the Nanchao Uprising. In 1935, he served as a member of the Southern Hebei Special Committee, head of the Organization Department and Military Department, commander of the Red Army’s Pinghan Line Guerrilla Unit, and commander of the First Division, First Army, First People’s Anti-Japanese and Anti-Chiang Salvation Army of North China, making outstanding contributions to the development of guerrilla warfare in southern Hebei for our Party. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Liu Zihou held positions including Governor of Hubei Province, Director of the Sanmenxia Project Bureau, Governor and Provincial Party Secretary of Hebei Province, Deputy Director of the State Planning Commission, and Standing Committee Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He was a Central Committee member during the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th National Congresses, and served in leading roles in Hebei Province for twenty-one years, making great contributions to the region’s political stability, economic development, and social progress. The second section of the exhibition hall mainly showcases Liu Zihou’s revolutionary journey.

Transportation Guide

Location: Eastern Section of Youya Street, Ren County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 314, 316 from Xingtai or Ren County, or routes 305, 307, or 308 in Ren County, and get off at the Rencheng Town Government Station. Walk east along Youya Street to reach the site.