Zhang Lan’s Hometown

Zhang Lan’s Hometown

Zhang Lan’s Hometown is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

1. Biaofang Square:

Upon entering the core area of Zhang Lan’s Hometown, the first sight to greet you is a square-shaped sculpture. Its simple and unadorned form easily brings to mind Mr. Zhang Lan’s character — this is the Biaofang Stone, named after his courtesy name. The entire stone is built from bluestone and stands 6.83 meters tall, 3 meters wide. The base is designed to be 83 centimeters high, symbolizing Mr. Zhang Lan’s age of 83. The wavy patterns on the base represent both Mr. Zhang's surname “Lan” (which means “waves”) and the magnificent journey of his life. On the front of the Biaofang Stone is an inscription by Chairman Mao Zedong highly praising him: “Comrade Biao is one of the greatest elders in the world!” During the Chongqing negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party, Mr. Zhang Lan demonstrated a strong spirit of democracy and unique political insight. Chairman Mao couldn't help but exclaim: “Comrade Biao, you are truly a flag. Wherever you are planted, you will make a difference — a difference that no one else can make. Comrade Biao is one of the greatest elders in the world!” Why did Chairman Mao compare Mr. Zhang Lan to the greatest elder in the world? Mr. Zhang Lan could be called a statesman through three dynasties and was among the earliest democrats. Although he was born in the late Qing Dynasty and even passed the imperial examination as a scholar, he had none of the conservativeness of the fallen Qing nobility. He led the Railway Protection Movement, which contributed to the success of the 1911 Revolution. Later, he led the China Democratic League in making significant contributions to the country’s peace and democracy. At the time, there was a saying: “Whoever wins over Zhang Lan, wins over the nation.” Many revolutionary comrades held this elder in great respect. Mr. Zhang Lan’s courtesy name was Biaofang, and “Comrade Biao” was also an honorific title used by comrades including Mao Zedong, * * *, * * * when referring to him. On the back of the Biaofang Stone is an inscription by Ms. Zhang Meiying, granddaughter of Mr. Zhang Lan and current Vice Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference: “Being true inside and out and acting with uprightness” — these eight gilded characters embody the meaning behind Mr. Zhang Lan’s courtesy name Biaofang and reflect his real-life conduct and principles.

2. The China Democratic League Central Committee Forest:

The Plum Garden covers a total of 27 acres and features more than 20 rare varieties of plum blossoms, including Apricot Plum, Ink Plum, Lingering Snow, and Bone Red, with over 1,000 trees in total. All were transported from as far away as Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, and some species are rarely seen even across the country — for instance, the garden’s Flowering Plum Tree is likely only found here in Sichuan. The engraving on this stone reads “China Democratic League Central Committee Forest,” which was inscribed by Vice Chairperson Zhang Meiying. The Plum Garden is also known as the China Democratic League Central Committee Forest, donated by the Central Committee of the China Democratic League. Why plant so many plum trees here?

Since ancient times, the plum blossom has symbolized the unyielding integrity of the Chinese nation and is beloved by scholars and poets. Lu You once wrote about the plum: “It vies not in springtime’s pride / But lets all flowers envy it beside. / Fallen, crushed to dust, it still has scent — / Unlike the mud beneath one’s feet.” Mr. Zhang Lan was also very fond of plum blossoms throughout his life, once expressing his admiration in the poem “Dreaming of the South Creek Villa’s Flourishing Bamboos,” where he described dreaming of returning home to find all his surroundings covered in plum blossoms, wishing to spend winter in their companionship. But Mr. Zhang was always traveling around for the democratic cause, and this wish never came true. On the 140th anniversary of his birth, the villagers set aside these 27 acres especially to plant a variety of plum blossoms in fulfillment of his desire. Most of the plum blossoms bloom in March and April, just around the time of his birthday.

Planting plum trees across the China Democratic League Central Committee Forest also serves to pass down the spirit of Elder Biao. Chairman Mao’s poem about plum blossoms fits Mr. Zhang Lan’s plum spirit well: “She blooms, not to outvie the spring, / But to tell its advent; / When all flowers riot in their prime, / She smiles among them.” Throughout his life, Mr. Zhang Lan practiced what he preached, lived a simple and thrifty life, and was an ardent democrat and patriot. His life reflected selfless and noble qualities. He referred to these as being “desire-free,” or, as Chairman Mao put it, having “the spirit of utter selflessness.” These traits are consistent with the symbolic resilience, perseverance, bold leadership, and ceaseless striving embodied by the plum blossom. As we visit the Plum Garden today, we must not only remember Mr. Zhang's image of blooming against the snow, diffusing fragrance in the cold, and displaying his noble character — we must also learn from the plum blossom’s tenacity.

There is a small plaza here where a circular sculpture themed "Poetry Corridor" will later be created to showcase Mr. Zhang Lan’s representative poems. The scenic area will supplement cultural elements during site development by placing various sculptures along the tour paths to illustrate different phases of Mr. Zhang Lan’s life.

3. China Democratic League Exhibition Hall: Adjacent to Mr. Zhang’s former residence, this hall covers over 470 square meters. The main building was funded by Fan Zeng, a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher, and his calligraphy can be seen above the entrance. The China Democratic League Exhibition Hall has five major exhibition rooms. The exhibits are arranged chronologically, showcasing the extraordinary 70+ year history of the China Democratic League through images, documents, video materials, interactive computer screens, and more.

The China Democratic League is primarily composed of mid-to-senior level intellectuals engaged in education and science/technology. It was secretly established in Chongqing on March 19, 1941, and renamed the China Democratic League in 1944. The first exhibition room, themed “Inception and Formation,” introduces the background of the League’s founding from 1938 to 1944, the process of reorganization and name change, and its political stance at the time. After the outbreak of the full-scale War of Resistance against Japan, under intense public pressure, * * * convened the National Political Council and the National Defense Advisory Council. During those sessions, several parties and non-partisan democrats, considering the domestic and international situations, proposed forming an intermediate power between * * * and * * * to foster unity between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party to resist Japan. Soon after, Wang Jingwei openly defected to the enemy, and Chiang Kai-shek adopted a passive stance toward resistance, spurring the creation of the “United League for Building the Country,” the predecessor to the China Democratic League. After the “Anhui Incident,” various factions lost faith in Chiang Kai-shek and decided to form the “China Democratic Political League” based on the United League for Building the Country. It was secretly established in the private residence of the patriotic figure Xian Ying (courtesy name Tesheng) in Chongqing — hence later known as the “Special Garden.”

In 1943, Zhang Lan published the famous essay “China Needs Genuine Democratic Politics,” representing the voice of various democrats and receiving positive responses. In 1944, the China Democratic League held a national conference, officially renaming itself the “China Democratic League.” This conference elected Zhang Lan and others as central leaders, with Zhang serving as chairperson. From the beginning, the China Democratic Political League adhered to the political stance of “implementing the anti-Japanese cause, practicing democratic principles, and strengthening domestic unity.” These were the founders of the League — leaders of the three parties and three factions, non-partisan elites, and their political positions at the time.

The second exhibition room focuses on the difficult journey of cooperative nation-building from 1944 to 1949 during the final stages of the War of Resistance and the Liberation War. After victory in the War of Resistance, Chiang Kai-shek actively prepared for civil war, sparking strong dissatisfaction nationwide. Through the joint efforts of the China Democratic League, * * *, and various social sectors, Chiang invited Mao Zedong to Chongqing for peace talks. There was a postscript to the talks: Mr. Zhang Lan suggested to Mao that the results of the closed-door discussions between the KMT and CCP be made public to prevent Chiang from reneging later, and offered to issue an open letter to both leaders to promote peace and nation-building. Mao responded with admiration: “Comrade Biao is truly the ‘Sage of Northern Sichuan’ — a seasoned and farsighted statesman!” After the Chongqing talks, under national pressure, Chiang signed a ceasefire agreement and convened the Political Consultative Conference. However, while Chongqing celebrated the successful convening, * * * operatives orchestrated the notorious “Jiaochangkou Massacre,” injuring prominent democrats Li Gongpu and Wen Yiduo. The reactionary forces followed up with the “Xiaguan Tragedy,” both condemned nationwide — yet they still illegally held the National Assembly, prompting the League to refuse participation or recognition. This inevitably led to suppression by the * * * regime. In October 1947, the * * * government declared the League an illegal organization and ordered its dissolution. The League’s dissolution had a negative impact nationwide. Zhang Lan explained sorrowfully: “I’m not afraid of death — I did this to protect the lives and safety of all members in the KMT-controlled areas.” Zhang Lan and Luo Longji were placed under house arrest, and many leaders went to Hong Kong as the League shifted to underground struggle. With the League’s strong support, * * * successfully convened a political consultative conference before winning the Liberation War, deciding to establish a coalition government. On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded — a scene captured with Chairman Mao, Zhang Lan, * * *, * * * and others standing atop Tiananmen Gate. Mr. Zhang appeared just as he did then, and the people never forgot this unpretentious elder.

The third exhibition room upstairs, themed “Building on the Past, Opening the Future,” showcases the League’s new developments after the founding of New China. Here you can view photos of past national congresses, venues, and attending leaders, as well as general information on meeting content. Notably, a small wooden room in the corner — with a plaque reading “Home of Democracy” — is a replica. The original stood in Chongqing’s Special Garden (the “Xian Residence” from the first exhibition room), which became a gathering place for many democrats after the League's secret founding there in 1941, thus earning the nickname “Democracy’s Home.” Guo Moruo once wrote verse in praise of Mr. Xian and Democracy’s Home; Chairman Mao visited Special Garden three times, remarking how welcomed he felt like family. Mr. Zhang Lan composed a couplet for Democracy’s Home, still hanging at its gate.

The fourth exhibition room discusses the League’s initiatives following the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee. Under the guidance of the * * * Theory, the League stuck to the principles of “long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sincerity and mutual trust, and sharing honor and disgrace,” performing its duties in political consultation and contributing ideas, plans, good deeds, and tangible actions for national development. Images at the entrance show the League actively advising at the Two Sessions, its proposals always research-based. To the right and on the center wall are photos documenting the League’s grassroots research, nationwide study sessions, and provision of real evidence for key national policy decisions.

The fifth exhibition room spotlights the League’s proud contributions to social services. With many experts in education and science, the League frequently provides teaching and guidance in remote regions, organizing poverty alleviation and educational programs in border areas. Many model individuals have emerged from these efforts, setting examples for the nation.

The multimedia exhibition room first displays images of major events from the League’s more than 70 years of history. It also offers advanced AV equipment and soft seating, allowing visitors to freely explore related media works such as “Democratic Waves” and “Huang Yanpei.” Please allow me to end the tour with a quote from the current Chairperson of the Central Committee, President Jiang: “Seventy years of shared trials; together, we open new chapters.”

4. Green Lotus Pond:

Exiting the China Democratic League Exhibition Hall, you’ll see two clear ponds in front of the former residence, lush with green lotuses. Named the Green Lotus Pond, the lotus has long symbolized purity untouched by the muddy waters — here, the pond reminds us to emulate Mr. Zhang Lan’s integrity in governance and his frugal daily life. Throughout his life, Mr. Zhang held many positions, yet remained incorruptible regardless of rank. A few examples are notable: 1. As Sichuan Provincial Governor during the Republic of China, he used no public funds for entertainment, and left office in debt — his mother sold family property to repay it. 2. Holding significant funds and unable to afford medical care. In October 1947, after the * * * declared the League “illegal” and ordered its dissolution, many leaders fled to Hong Kong, and authorities accused Zhang Lan of “colluding with * * * and betraying to the Soviet Union,” forbidding him escape. Though gravely ill and in his 80s, he transferred large donations from local power figures who secretly joined the League, leaving himself unable to get treated. Shanghai’s Hongqiao Sanatorium admitted him for free due to admiration for his reputation, while male and female spies disguised as medical staff monitored him in shifts. 3. Wearing old clothes at the founding ceremony. After breaking free of Chiang Kai-shek, he went to Beiping. Mao Zedong, wearing patched clothing, personally visited to ask him to serve as Vice President. Mr. Zhang declined citing old age, but Mao replied: “Virtue demands your service.” Of the first six vice presidents, three were non-party members — Zhang Lan, Chairperson of the League, was one. At the ceremony, he still wore his same old robe. Mao, freshly dressed in a new wool suit from Wangfujing, laughed: “Biao, you’re too frugal.” He ordered one made for Zhang, who kept it in a box and never used it — it was given to the state after his passing. Mr. Zhang’s integrity is also reflected in his poetry — one poem, especially striking, was dedicated to a stylish female teacher in Yangxi Town, Shehong County: “Silks embroidered in brocades, a beauty peerless / Dressed in the latest rage without a pause / Yet pitiful are the poor girls who follow the Way / Who cannot even afford pants for winter.” Mr. Zhang not only lived uprightly himself but constantly reminded colleagues not to indulge in wealth or luxury.

5. Zhang Lan’s Former Residence:

Located in Guanyin Hall Village, Lianchi Township, Xichong County, his former residence is a traditional, multi-courtyard compound built during the Qing Dynasty, covering over 4,000 square meters. Facing east and nestled among green hills and bamboo groves, the residence is embraced like a comfortable armchair. The highest peak behind the main house gives the site a majestic presence. A patch of water fields and a pool in front also add refined beauty to the property.

As a typical dwelling of northern Sichuan, it features a single-eave Xieshan-style roof, small dark-blue tiles, wooden post-and-lintel construction, and consists of the main courtyard, north courtyard, south courtyard, and livestock pen.

The main courtyard includes the central hall and east/west wing rooms. The hall, built 1.75 meters above ground to prevent moisture, spans five bays with the middle bay used as a sitting room and side bays as bedrooms.

In front of the hall steps is an altar platform, its stone wall decorated with reliefs of deer, curled vines, flowers, and potted plants.

The south wing room has seven bays; the north has three. Ground surfaces are paved with stone slabs and strips. A 2.1-meter bronze statue of Mr. Zhang stands in the center courtyard on a 0.9-meter-high granite pedestal (1.3 meters wide). The south courtyard consists of buildings to the south and the south wing of the main courtyard. The southern-facing structure spans five bays.

The north courtyard is made up of five structures to the east, north, and west of the main courtyard plus the main’s north wing — together forming a unified, characteristic architectural cluster of northern Sichuan style.

6. Bamboo Grove Academy:

Built upon two acres of original bamboo groves on the family property, it is said that Mr. Zhang’s father once operated a lecture pavilion here for teaching, later dismantled — leaving this lush bamboo forest. A scroll-shaped sculpture here displays Mr. Zhang Lan’s autobiography, written in 1942, the year before he became Chairperson of the China Democratic League. It therefore excludes events after that — including becoming league leader and vice president. The autobiographical text is concise and humble, reflecting the simplicity and modesty of the man.

Protected area: 50 meters beyond the boundary of the site.

Construction control zone: 50 meters beyond the protected area.

Zhang Lan (1872–1955), courtesy name Biaofang, was a native of Zhangguangou Village, Guanyintang Township, Lianchi Township, Xichong County. In his early years, he studied alongside his father, Wenzo, engaging in farming and reading. He passed the imperial examination as a xiucai in 1895 and later became a bingsheng scholar. In 1902, he entered the Zunjing Academy in Chengdu to study the classics and history. The following year, due to his outstanding character and academic performance, he was selected to study at the Normal Division of Hongwen Academy in Tokyo, Japan. During his time abroad, influenced by reformist ideas, Zhang Lan advocated for Empress Dowager Cixi to return power to Emperor Guangxu and was subsequently sent back to China by officials of the Qing government’s embassy in Japan. In 1904, he served as an academic supervisor at Shunqing Prefecture Middle School. The following year, he went to Chengdu to become the head instructor at the Sichuan Preparatory School for Overseas Study. In 1906... More detailed information about Zhang Lan++