Red Army Division History Museum

Red Army Division History Museum

The Red Army Division History Museum is a classic red tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The Red Army Division History Museum is located at No. 48 Renmin West Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo City, Shandong Province. It was completed in October 1995, with a construction area of 2,700 square meters. In June 1997, it was designated as a municipal-level patriotic and national defense education base by the CPC Zibo Municipal Committee and the Municipal People’s Government. In May 1998, it was approved and announced by the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee as a provincial-level patriotic education base. In April 2009, it was jointly named and announced by the Shandong Provincial Committee on the Care of the Next Generation, the Shandong Provincial Committee on Aging, the Shandong Provincial Department of Education, and the Communist Youth League Shandong Provincial Committee as a Shandong Provincial Education Base for the Care of the Next Generation. In June 2015, it was jointly named by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and the Communist Youth League Central Committee as a “National Social Practice Base for College Students” and a “National Core Values Cultivation Base for Teenage Students.”

The museum’s nameplate, “Red Army Division History Museum,” was personally inscribed by General Yang Chengwu. The museum features a prologue hall, the First Exhibition Hall, the Second Exhibition Hall, and a Black Pottery Mural Hall. The first sight visitors encounter is the prologue hall, which uses large-scale bronze relief murals, round sculptures of military flags guarded by the murals, traditional Chinese paintings, and other forms to reflect the heroic momentum of this unit across various historical periods under the leadership of the Party. Next is the First Exhibition Hall, which mainly consists of a preface, the period of the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the period of the War of Resistance against Japan, and the period of the nationwide Liberation War. The Second Exhibition Hall includes the period of socialist revolution and socialist construction, as well as sections on brilliant generals, heartfelt care, heroes and martyrs, and inscriptions. The Third Exhibition Hall displays the largest black pottery relief mural — “Mighty Iron Flow Army” — created by the renowned black pottery artist Qiu Zhihai. It is considered a rare artistic treasure and a masterpiece, as well as the museum’s prized exhibit.

Through a wealth of precious photographs, cultural relics, artistic models, and various means such as sound, light, and electricity, the museum reflects the combat history and spirit of this unit over more than 80 years.

Since its opening, the museum has taken it as an honorable duty and obligation to promote patriotic education, especially among young people, along with revolutionary heroism and revolutionary outlook on life. It is open to both military and civilian visitors and is widely welcomed by both the armed forces and local communities. Every year, during events such as new recruits enlisting, instructor training, student military training, moral education classes, as well as military day activities and party-member and league-member training organized by party and government agencies and enterprises, the museum actively receives visitors and arranges guides to provide detailed introductions. These efforts help people learn about the unit’s glorious history, the exemplary deeds and noble qualities of its heroes, and enhance their awareness of patriotism, dedication, and heritage preservation. According to incomplete statistics, the museum has received 6,100 visiting units from both military and civilian sectors, hosted over 10,600 visits, and welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors.