Shenchi Mao Zedong's Former Residence Memorial Hall

Shenchi Mao Zedong's Former Residence Memorial Hall

Shenchi Mao Zedong's Former Residence Memorial Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Shenchi County and a classic red tourism destination.

Mao Zedong's Former Residence Memorial Hall is located inside the county’s cultural center (which was then the site of the CPC Shenchi County Committee). On April 5, 1948, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, along with Vice Chairman Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, Xu Teli, and others, were traveling from the Shanxi-Suiyuan Border Region to Xibaipo, Hebei Province. They passed through Kelan and Wucai, arriving here and staying overnight. During their stay, they listened to a report from the county’s land reform work team on land reform and party consolidation efforts. Zhou Enlai once climbed up to the west city wall to view Xihai Lake. The next day, they continued eastward to Daixian County. In 1968, the Shenchi County Revolutionary Committee preserved the three main rooms where Mao had stayed, along with his office desk and double bed, exactly as they were at the time, for public viewing. In 2006, the county government funded a renovation project. In addition to preserving the Mao Zedong Great Achievements Exhibition Hall in its original form, a Shenchi Folk Customs Exhibition Hall was added.

At around 5 p.m. on April 5, 1948, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, and other central leaders passed through Shenchi County. At the time, Zheng Lin, head of the local land reform work team, arranged for the central leaders to stay in this courtyard. Here, Zhou Enlai issued important guidance, stating, “Strive to develop production, care about the lives of the people, and organize effective self-rescue production.” At 6 a.m. on April 6, Mao Zedong walked by the “Hai Zi Lake” to the west of the city. He emphasized that the county leadership should properly resolve any lingering issues faced by the people after the land reform. The central leaders then proceeded to Daixian County.

In 1958, Shenchi County protected the courtyard where Mao Zedong and the central leaders had stayed. In 1968, the Shenchi County Committee arranged the office desk and the bed where Mao had slept as they were originally, for public viewing.

Due to years of neglect, the buildings had deteriorated severely. In 2006, the CPC Shenchi County Committee and the People’s Government of Shenchi County carried out a thorough renovation based on the principle of “restoring the old as it was, without altering the current state of revolutionary relics.”

Currently, the memorial hall features clean and well-maintained buildings with a unique architectural style. It includes three rooms that served as Mao Zedong’s residence, three rooms that served as Zhou Enlai and Ren Bishi’s residences, and three exhibition halls: one showcasing Mao Zedong’s Great Achievements, one displaying Shenchi folk customs, and one dedicated to calligraphy and paintings. The exhibitions are rich in content and highly educational. There is also a uniquely designed cultural wall and a parking lot. The site attracts a continuous stream of visitors and serves as a moral education base for local youth and a patriotic education base for middle and primary school students. Regular educational activities are often organized here.

Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), courtesy name Runzhi (originally Yongzhi, later changed to Runzhi), pen name Ziren. A native of Xiangtan, Hunan. He was the leader of the Chinese people, a Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist, as well as a principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and the People’s Republic of China. He was also a poet and calligrapher. From 1949 to 1976, Mao Zedong served as the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China. His contributions to the development of Marxism-Leninism, military theory, and... More details about Mao Zedong ++