Former Site of Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang

Former Site of Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang

The former site of the Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province and a classic red tourism destination.

Former Site of Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: 1939

Address: Shanzhuang Village, Matian Town, Zuoquan County, Jinzhong City

The former site of the Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang (former residence of Zhao Shuli) is located in Shanzhuang Village, Matian Town, 61 kilometers southeast of Zuoquan County. The former site of the Xinhua Daily News Agency and the former residence of Zhao Shuli are two adjacent courtyards within Shanzhuang Village.

From 1940 to 1945, the Xinhua Daily News Agency was stationed in Shanzhuang Village. During this period, the North China edition of Xinhua Daily expanded from four pages to six, and changed from a biweekly to a daily publication, increasing the newspaper’s content by 30% and doubling its circulation. The former site of the Xinhua Daily News Agency is a building from the Republican era, facing south with a single-courtyard layout. It measures 14.29 meters in length from north to south and 11.81 meters in width from east to west, with a rectangular floor plan. There are currently four structures on the site: a five-room main house, two two-room wing rooms on the east and west sides, and a five-room southern room. A gravel-paved pathway runs through the center of the courtyard.

From 1939 to 1942, Zhao Shuli lived in Shanzhuang Village, where he created a large number of literary works including "The Marriage of Xiao Erhei," marking the peak of his literary and artistic creativity. The former residence of Zhao Shuli is a building from the Republican era, facing south with a single-courtyard layout. It measures 20.82 meters in length from north to south and 12.80 meters in width from east to west, with a rectangular floor plan. There are currently four structures on the site: a five-room main house, three two-room wing rooms on both the east and west sides, and a five-room southern room. A gravel-paved pathway runs through the center of the courtyard.

The former site of the Xinhua Daily News Agency at Shanzhuang is a remnant and witness to the expansion and development of the Xinhua Daily during the War of Resistance. It served as a platform for the Chinese Communist Party’s cultural propaganda efforts in North China during the full-scale war of resistance. The important speeches and editorials published here played a crucial role in promoting anti-Japanese ideology, critiquing enemy aggression, and unifying the morale of soldiers and civilians in the resistance.

The literary works created by Zhao Shuli in Shanzhuang Village, Zuoquan County, authentically reflect the contradictions and changes in rural society during the war, highlight the sharp struggle between revolutionary progressive ideals and superstitious ignorance, and portray vivid and profound images of rural characters. These works made an outstanding contribution to the development of literature and art during the resistance and laid the foundation for the later emergence of the “Yam Egg School” of literature after the founding of New China.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Shanzhuang Village: Located in the dry stony area behind Gou of Matian Town and adjacent to Shizi Ridge, Shanzhuang Village is a typical mountain village. The village has a population of 470 and 160 households, primarily engaged in agriculture.

The walnut industry is the village's leading sector, with an average of 33 walnut trees per person, making it one of the main walnut-producing areas in the town. In addition, labor export is also a major source of income for the village.

… More detailed information about Shanzhuang Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units