Former Site of Sichuan Provincial No. 4 Normal School

Former Site of Sichuan Provincial No. 4 Normal School

The former site of Sichuan Provincial No. 4 Normal School is a classic red tourism destination.

Sichuan Provincial No. 4 Normal School (abbreviated as “Provincial No. 4 Normal”) is located in Tiancheng Town, Wanzhou District, Chongqing.

Established in 1914, Sichuan Provincial No. 4 Normal School was originally situated outside the east gate of Wanzhou County in Wenchang Palace (formerly First Road, Wanzhou City). In 1918, it was relocated to Kangjiawan, over 10 li from the urban area, covering an area of more than 60 mu. Original campus structures such as the auditorium, chapel, and dormitories were all built in a Japanese architectural style. Most have since been renovated or rebuilt, with only the brick-and-tile auditorium and one office building remaining.

In 1918, the renowned democratic revolutionary Zhang Taiyan inscribed the school motto: “Those without deep resolve will achieve no brilliant success. A fine steed may leap, but not ten paces; a dull horse, with perseverance, will cover the distance.” In the spring of 1923, the Communist Party member Xiao Chunü came to teach at the school, actively promoting revolutionary ideals, organizing revolutionary activities, and inviting Yun Daiying to deliver a lecture to students on “Where is China Heading?”—making him one of the earliest Chinese Communists to sow the seeds of revolution in Eastern Sichuan. Later, proletarian revolutionaries such as Zhu De and Liu Bocheng also lectured at the school, spreading Marxism-Leninism and expounding on revolutionary principles. Li Jiazhou, the first Communist Party member to serve as school principal, actively reformed school administration and nurtured talent, recruiting over ten members for the Communist Youth League and establishing a Youth League branch. He Qifang, a famous writer, poet, and literary theorist from Wanzhou, also once taught here. Wave after wave of young students came to study, learning new knowledge, embracing new ideas, and exploring new paths under the guidance of revolutionary predecessors. Together with progressive teachers, they actively participated in anti-imperialist struggles such as the “September 5th” Incident in Wanzhou, the anti-Japanese salvation movement, and the people’s liberation cause. This produced revolutionary figures such as Chen Bohan and Luo Yihuai, as well as dozens of revolutionary martyrs including Liu Bojian, Wu Yi, Jiang Wan, Zhao Ming’en, and Peng Yongwu, who contributed to China’s revolution and construction. The school has thus been hailed as the “Cradle of Revolution in Eastern Sichuan.”

In the autumn of 1935, Provincial No. 4 Normal School was renamed Sichuan Provincial Wanzhou Normal School. It is now part of Chongqing College of Early Childhood Education.

Source: Chongqing Party History Website