Site of the Datian Conference

Site of the Datian Conference

The Site of the Datian Conference is a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Site, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Site of the Datian Conference is located in Datian Town, Renhe District, Panzhihua City. It currently serves as the training base for the Panzhihua Armed Police Force, covering an area of 3,750 square meters, and is a municipal-level cultural heritage site in Panzhihua. In 1964, it was the office building of the Lagu Forestry Bureau. Constructed in 1962, the building is a quadrangle with a brick-and-wood frame, earthen walls, a tiled roof with small blue tiles, and surfaces coated with white mud and lime plaster to protect the earthen walls and enhance aesthetics. At the time, it was the finest complex of buildings in Renhe District.

On September 9, 1964, a joint on-site conference attended by over 180 leaders from 18 ministries and commissions—including metallurgy, geology, railways, transportation, post and telecommunications, and grain—as well as representatives from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces, was held in the office building of the Lagu Forestry Bureau in Datian. The conference conveyed Premier Zhou Enlai’s instructions regarding the continued site selection and further planning of the base, and made specific arrangements. This historic meeting is known as the “Datian Conference.”

From May 15 to June 17, 1964, the CPC Central Committee held a working conference in Beijing. During the conference, leaders at all levels—from the central government to provincial, municipal, and central departmental officials—reached a consensus on the determination to build the Third Front and develop Panzhihua. After the conference, Premier Zhou Enlai appointed Cheng Zihua, Executive Deputy Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the State Planning Commission, as the head of the Southwest Work Investigation Group. Cheng led a team that included Lü Zhengcao, Wang Guangwei, Xu Chi, and others, working together with comrades from the Southwest Bureau and the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan to take full responsibility for the investigation, planning, and organizational work. On August 18, the investigation group reported to Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Li Fuchun on the findings of the Panzhihua investigation and planning, as well as issues related to factory site selection. Premier Zhou and Vice Premier Li agreed with the Southwest Bureau’s proposal to “tentatively select Nongnongping as the factory site, continue searching for alternatives, unify planning, and adopt a multi-point layout.” On September 7, following Premier Zhou and Vice Premier Li’s directive to “continue site selection comparisons and further improve base planning,” the State Planning Commission and the Southwest Bureau once again organized the “Panzhihua Industrial Base Planning Working Group” to continue the site selection and planning process for the Panzhihua base.

On September 9, 1964, a joint on-site conference attended by over 180 leaders from 18 ministries and commissions—including metallurgy, geology, railways, transportation, post and telecommunications, and grain—as well as representatives from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces, was held in the office building of the Lagu Forestry Bureau in Datian. The conference focused on the continued site selection and further planning for Panzhihua. Leaders from central ministries and commissions, as well as those from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, along with all members of the Panzhihua Base Planning Working Group, attended the meeting. The conference was chaired by Cheng Zihua, Deputy Director of the State Planning Commission. Yan Xiufeng, Second Secretary of the Southwest Bureau, conveyed the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Li Fuchun regarding the continued site selection and further planning of the base, and made arrangements for the ongoing work. He urged all planning members to overcome difficulties and ensure the success of the continued site selection and planning efforts. With this, the formal work of continued site selection and further planning commenced. On September 11, the CPC Central Committee approved the establishment of the Southwest Third Front Construction Preparatory Leading Group, which included: the Industrial Base Planning Working Group centered on Panzhihua, the Conventional Weaponry Industry Support Working Group centered on Chongqing, and the Steel Plant Site Selection Working Group. Cheng Zihua and Yan Xiufeng were responsible for the Panzhihua-centered industrial base planning; Jiang Chongjing and Lu Dadong were responsible for the Chongqing-centered conventional weaponry industry support; and Xu Chi was responsible for steel plant site selection. Thus began the preparatory phase of the large-scale construction campaign in Panzhihua.

The “Datian Conference” determined the overall plan for the Panzhihua Industrial Zone, tentatively selected Nongnongping as the site for the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Plant, and marked a crucial chapter in the development and construction of Panzhihua.

It is understood that in 2002, the former site of the Datian Conference was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by the municipal government. On November 13, 2007, the Municipal Propaganda Department and the Municipal Culture Bureau funded the maintenance and protection project of the former site complex, aiming to create another tourist attraction in Panzhihua. The maintenance project carried out further repairs and improvements to the site and its surrounding environment, adding facilities such as a resource room, a printing room, and a study room to authentically recreate the scene of the Datian Conference. The memorial now houses hundreds of historical photos, and a large natural rock has been placed in the courtyard.

Protected area: within the existing perimeter wall.

Construction control zone: 5 meters beyond the protected area.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites