Chen Yi's Hometown Memorial Park

Chen Yi's Hometown Memorial Park

Chen Yi's Hometown Memorial Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism site, and a patriotic education base.

Chen Yi's Hometown Memorial Park Red Tourism Area: Located in Laodong Town, Lezhi County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, it is a national patriotic education base, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, one of China’s 100 classic red tourism sites, and an anti-corruption culture education base in Sichuan Province. The scenic area features over 40 attractions including Chen Yi’s Former Residence, the Chen Yi Memorial Hall, the Chen Yi Life and Deeds Exhibition Hall, Yufeng Platform, Dexin Garden, and Qitang Moon Reflection.

Chen Yi’s Former Residence: Originally built in the early years of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty, it is a three-courtyard quadrangle with mortise-and-tenon wooden structure, covering a construction area of 750 square meters with a total of 36 rooms of various sizes. It was restored and opened to the public in 1981.

Chen Yi Life and Deeds Exhibition Hall: An important attraction integrating gardens, scenery, and a memorial hall, it is also a great place for people to pay tribute to their predecessors and appreciate the style of Suzhou and Hangzhou gardens. The entire exhibition space consists of a foyer and seven sections: “Intelligent and Studious, Aspiring to Save the Nation,” “Arduous Campaigns, Persistent in Bloodshed,” “Advancing Behind Enemy Lines, Fighting in Central China,” “Battling in East China, Proclaiming Across the Central Plains,” “Governing Shanghai, Leading Diplomacy,” “Poetry, Calligraphy, Chess, and Passionate Sentiment,” and “Eternal Remembrance.” These sections display 294 photos and 60 precious cultural relics related to Marshal Chen Yi’s life, using high-tech exhibition methods such as scene restoration, holographic imaging, and multimedia to vividly recreate the glorious and great life of Marshal Chen Yi.

Chen Yi Memorial Hall: Located on Lingjiu Mountain in the center of Lezhi County. Completed in 2001, it covers an area of over 40 acres and features more than 20 attractions. The entire park is grand in scale, ingeniously designed, and spectacular in appearance. Major attractions include the “Marshal’s Hometown Entrance Plaza,” the “Expedition Path Group Sculptures,” the “Marshal’s Platform Tribute Plaza,” the “Songjie Exhibition Viewing Tower,” and the “Poetry Corridor.” A bronze statue of Marshal Chen Yi, gifted by the Central Military Commission, is placed in front of the memorial hall, with the four characters “Marshal Chen Yi” personally inscribed by Comrade Jiang Zemin.

Chen Yi Poetry Art Garden: Composed of six flag-shaped poetry walls, it features 108 poems by Chen Yi engraved in various fonts including the Marshal’s manuscript style, Song typeface, regular script, Wei stele style, and clerical script. These are divided into 12 thematic sections based on time and content: Seeking Truth in France, Jinggang Red Army, Southern Guerrillas, in the New Fourth Army, the Liberation War, the 1950s, the 1960s, Diplomatic Grace, Loyal and Devoted, Landscape and Scenery, Family Feelings, and Objects and Aspirations. Each section is paired with poetic reliefs such as Jinggang Mountain cliffs, Red Army flag emblems, and New Fourth Army insignia, arranged around the plaza to form a giant “heart” shape, creating an artistic and visual effect that blends poetry, calligraphy, painting, and scenery.

Chen Yi (August 26, 1901 – January 6, 1972), courtesy name Shijun, art name Zhonghong, was a native of Lezhi, Sichuan. He was an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a tested and loyal communist fighter, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, diplomat, and poet. He was one of the founders and leaders of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, a Marshal of the People’s Republic of China (one of the Ten Marshals), and an outstanding leader of the Party and the country. He served as the first Mayor of Shanghai in New China.

I. Chen Yi’s Early Years

(1901–1927)

Chen Yi…… More information about Chen Yi++

Laodong Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Lezhi County. Originally called Fuxingchang, it was renamed Fuxing Township in 1935, changed to a commune in 1958, and renamed Laodong Commune in 1959 upon the suggestion of Marshal Chen Yi. It became Laodong Township in 1984 and was upgraded to a town in 1992. Located in the northern part of the county, it is 12 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 60.5 square kilometers with a population of 42,000, it has road access. The town administers Baihua, Miaoshan, Jiujv, Niujiaogou, Qimen, Chaoshui, Gongmin, Toujiagou, Shijia’ao, Shuanglong, Minzhu, Lixianci, Guanghui, Siyuewan, Laoguanyin, Xianfeng, Sichabai, Huilong’an, Shuangcitan, Yuanchaomen, Dengjiaci… More information about Laodong Town++

Further Reading:

· China National Third-Class Museum