Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence

Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence

Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relic protection unit in China, and a classic red tourism destination.

The great proletarian revolutionary and pioneer of China’s women’s movement — Deng Yingchao — was a native of Chengguan Town, Guangshan County, Henan Province. During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, Deng Yingchao’s paternal ancestors settled here with their four sons. Deng Yingchao’s father, Deng Tingzhong, was the fourth son, born in the late Xianfeng years of the Qing Dynasty. From childhood, he trained in martial arts and possessed extraordinary strength. In the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), he passed the imperial martial arts examination and was appointed as a literary scholar in martial studies, serving as an imperial bodyguard before being transferred to serve as the garrison commander of Nanning, Guangxi. During this time, he met Ms. Yang ZhenDe, a doctor from Changsha, Hunan. Their friendship blossomed into romance, and they soon married. In 1904, Yang ZhenDe gave birth to a daughter, named Yuaì, with the formal name Wenshu, who later changed her name to Deng Yingchao after the May Fourth Movement. Later, Deng Tingzhong passed away in a distant place, and his coffin was transported back to Guangshan and buried in the Deng family ancestral tomb — Wangshui Tower — located five li south of the city.

In 2001, the Culture and Tourism Bureau invested over 300,000 yuan to carefully renovate Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence, largely restoring its original appearance. They also raised more than 2 million yuan through various channels and sent multiple teams to Beijing, Tianjin, Jilin, and other places to collect over 400 related cultural relics and items. Leaders from the Retired Cadres Bureau of the National People’s Congress visited the residence several times and designated it as a base for the bureau’s efforts to support the next generation. Officials from the Central Party Literature Research Office and the Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao Memorial Hall in Tianjin visited Guangshan several times a year, establishing a tripartite promotional base for Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao that connected Tianjin, Lin’an, and Guangshan. The Central Security Bureau and the West Flower Hall at Zhongnanhai regard the former residence as Deng Yingchao’s second home. Former staff members of Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao, as well as their relatives, transplanted a number of precious plants from the West Flower Hall and planted them personally at the residence. They also helped collect inscriptions and calligraphy from over 30 vice-national level leaders and cultural figures such as Wang Tiecheng, as well as historical artifacts from Zhou and Deng. On the Mid-Autumn Festival night of the lunar calendar August 15, 2004, Deng Yingchao’s secretary Zhao Wei and officials from the Tianjin Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao Memorial Hall visited the residence in Guangshan specifically to celebrate the holiday with the Culture and Tourism Bureau staff. Zhao Wei and her husband, along with Li Mei — Deng Yingchao’s goddaughter — and her husband, funded the creation of a white marble bust of Deng Yingchao, which was gifted to the residence on the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2005. It embodies their deep admiration for Sister Deng. The residence now displays exhibits including relics and biographical materials of Comrades Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao, a stele corridor featuring inscriptions from national leaders and cultural celebrities, a late Qing dynasty-style bedroom display reflecting Huizhou architectural art, and a martial arts training hall. In 2006, the Culture and Tourism Bureau raised another 2 million yuan to comprehensively launch renovation works at the residence, restoring the antique embroidery tower in the west courtyard. Through these projects, visitors can explore history and receive revolutionary tradition education while enjoying the simple yet elegant architectural style of Qing dynasty Huizhou design.

Since the opening of Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence to the public, it has received visits from central ministries and commissions such as the Central Party Literature Research Office, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security, as well as from leaders at provincial and municipal levels. It has assisted China Central Television, Henan Television, and Nanjing Television in filming TV specials such as “Deng Yingchao.” On February 4, 2004, the 100th anniversary of Deng Yingchao’s birth was commemorated with grand ceremonies at the residence, alongside the launch of the book “Deng Yingchao and Guangshan.” Visitors from across the country flocked to pay tribute to the predecessors and receive revolutionary tradition education, greatly enhancing the residence’s fame. In May 2005, with approval from the State Council, Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence was elevated to a national-level cultural relic protection unit. It has been designated as a patriotic education base by the Propaganda Department of the Henan Provincial Committee, attracting a continuous stream of visitors from all over the country every day. Protecting and utilizing Deng Yingchao’s Former Residence holds significant historical and practical importance for commemorating the great achievements of proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation and providing patriotic and revolutionary tradition education to the general public and youth.

Transportation Guide:

Visitors traveling by bus or car can exit the G40 Shanghai–Xi’an Expressway at the Guangshan exit, head south into Guangshan County, or exit the G45 Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway at the Guangshan interchange, drive west for 1.5 kilometers, or take National Highway 106 to reach Zhaihe in Guangshan County, then continue south for 7 kilometers to arrive at the scenic area. Train travelers may choose the Beijing–Guangzhou Railway or the Nanjing–Xi’an Railway and disembark at Xinyang Station, then transfer to a high-speed bus from Xinyang to Guangshan to reach the county directly.

Address: Baiyun Lane, Simaguang Middle Road, Guangshan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province

Phone: 0376—8888321

Opening Hours: Morning: 8:00–11:30; Afternoon: 2:30–5:30 (Winter), 3:00–6:00 (Summer)

Deng Yingchao (1904–1992): A great proletarian revolutionary, stateswoman, renowned social activist, staunch Marxist, outstanding leader of the Party and the country, and a pioneer of China’s women’s movement.

Deng Yingchao, originally named Deng Wenshu, was a native of Guangshan, Henan. She was born on February 4, 1904, in Nanning, Guangxi. Orphaned of her father in childhood, she lived a frugal life supported by her mother Yang ZhenDe, who worked as a doctor or private tutor.

From 1913 to 1920, she studied successively at Beijing Civilian School and Tianjin First Women’s Normal School of Zhili, later teaching at the affiliated primary school of Peking Normal University and in Tianjin… More details about Deng Yingchao ++

Jiefang Street Community: The Jiefang Street Neighborhood Committee of Zishui Subdistrict was established in the early years of the liberation. Its jurisdiction spans 1.5 square kilometers, bordered by Zishui Stream to the east, Xuanshan Middle Road to the west, Jiulong Middle Road to the south, and Haiying Road to the north. It administers 6 resident groups, with 366 registered households and 1,018 people under ledger management. The current registered population is 19,626, with 12,180 permanent residents. The community’s “two committees” consist of 6 cadres, and the Party branch currently has 47 members. It is currently the only old-town neighborhood committee in Guangshan County and was the political, economic, and cultural center of Guangshan before the reform and opening-up period.

In recent years, the community has successively won… More details about Jiefang Street Community ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Key National Cultural Relic Protection Units