Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army

Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army

The Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army is a patriotic education base.

The former site of the General Headquarters and Political Department of the National Revolutionary Army’s Eastern Expedition Army is located at No. 207 Waima Road, Shantou City. It consists of two two-story buildings with an integrated reinforced concrete beam-slab-column and brick-wood composite structure, divided into the east and west buildings. The two buildings are 4 meters apart, have the same design, and each floor covers an area of 355 square meters, making the total floor area of both buildings 1,420 square meters. Originally built as a hotel operated by the British and named “Suitable Building,” it was later renamed “Ge Bao Embroidery & Lace Shop.” The site has a history of nearly 100 years, and both the east and west buildings retain their original appearance. On November 4, 1925, during the National Revolutionary Army’s second entry into Shantou City in the Eastern Expedition, the General Headquarters and Political Department were stationed in these east and west buildings. Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek and Soviet military advisor General Galen worked in the west building, while Zhou Enlai, Director-General of the Political Department, resided and worked on the southeast corner of the second floor of the east building. He often met here with representatives of workers, peasants, women, youth, and people from various circles, and personally inscribed the word “Revolution” for the supplement of the newspaper Lingdong MinGuo Daily. In May 1996, the “Shantou City Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army” was established, becoming the city’s first thematic museum dedicated to revolutionary history. In July 1997, the exhibition “Eastern Expedition History Display,” held in the east building, officially opened to the public. This exhibition consists of nine display rooms, divided into five major sections, showcasing 120 historical photographs and 50 replicated cultural relics. Through documents, photos, texts, and physical objects, it vividly presents the entire course of the two Eastern Expeditions organized by the Guangdong Revolutionary Government in February and October 1925 to combat the warlord Chen Jiongming entrenched in the Dongjiang region, aiming to fight imperialism, feudalism, unify Guangdong, and subsequently launch the Northern Expedition to unify China.

The former site of the General Headquarters and Political Department of the National Revolutionary Army’s Eastern Expedition Army is located at No. 207 Waima Road, Shantou City. Built in 1924, it consists of east and west buildings. Originally a hotel run by the British and named “Suitable Building,” it was later converted into the Ge Bao Embroidery & Lace Shop.

On November 4, 1925, during the National Revolutionary Army’s second entry into Shantou City, the General Headquarters and Political Department were stationed here. Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek and Soviet military advisor General Galen once worked in the west building, while Zhou Enlai, Director-General of the Political Department, worked in the east building. In the 35th year of the Republic of China (1946), the site was purchased and renovated by a businessman named Zhang Yanzhen.

In 1952, the site was taken over by the Shantou Civil Aviation Authority and used by the China National Aviation Corporation. It was subsequently used by various organizations, including the Shantou Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, the Shantou Municipal People's Congress, and the CPPCC Shantou Municipal Committee.

In 1988, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the Shantou Municipal People's Government.

In 1995, the former site was officially handed over to the cultural relics department for management and underwent comprehensive renovation and restoration.

In May 1996, the “Shantou City Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army” was established to specifically manage the protection of the site.

In August 2000, it was recognized as a provincial-level patriotic education base by the Guangdong Provincial Civilization Committee.

In July 2002, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.

Since the “Eastern Expedition History Display” exhibition was officially opened to the public in July 1997, our museum has received visits from over 300,000 people, including central and local party and government leaders, military officers and soldiers, young students, citizens, and people from all walks of life, who have given it high praise to varying degrees. Last year, we fully renovated the exhibition panels, rearranged the displays, organized a new set of exhibits, added an equipment room, restored Comrade Zhou Enlai’s dedicated room, and opened it to the public.

As a patriotic education base, our museum fully utilizes its functions and content. The “Eastern Expedition History Display,” which integrates commemorative and educational elements, serves as an educational textbook featuring physical objects and document displays. Through vivid battle scenes, it allows visitors to revisit history, honor the martyrs, inherit their legacy, ignite patriotic fervor, and achieve the goals of patriotic education.

The Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army, Shantou City, is located at No. 207 Waima Road, Shantou City. It is a directly affiliated unit of the Shantou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press, and Publication. Upon entering downtown Shantou, you can take public buses No. 1, 10, 33, 36, or 37 and get off at the “Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Historical Relics of the Eastern Expedition Army” stop. The museum is currently open to the public free of charge six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, between 9:00–11:30 AM and 3:00–5:30 PM, with a daily reception capacity of about 300 people.

Address: No. 207 Waima Road, Shantou City

Accessible via public buses No. 1, 10, 33, 36, and 37

Contact number: 0754-88434473

Person in charge: Xie Qiongyan

Opening hours: Free admission from 9:00–11:30 AM and 15:00–17:30, Monday to Saturday (Source: Publicity Department of the Shantou Municipal Party Committee)