Former Site of the Songkou Library

Former Site of the Songkou Library

The former site of the Songkou Library is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

The former site of the Songkou Library is located on Gongyuan Road in Songkou Town, Meixian District. In 1908, members of the Tongmenghui including Qiu Zhe, Xie Liangmu, and Liang Mingjiu established the Gongyuyuan business (Gongyuyuan Rice Store) in Songkou, which became a secret base for Tongmenghui members to conduct revolutionary communications. It was later turned into the Songkou Reading Society, which served as the precursor to the Songkou Library. In 1912, the Songkou Reading Society was officially renamed the "Songkou Popular Library." In October 1934, enlightened individuals including Qiu Zhe, Rao Yimei, and Zhang Zuoxin, under the name of the Education Association, initiated a public fundraising campaign and chose a central location north of Zhongshan Park to construct a new building. The new library was completed the following year. In 1985, the Songkou Library underwent renovation and reopened to the public. In 1991, the library was renovated again, with improvements made to beautify the surroundings. Additionally, the Hong Kong YUWAH Chinese Products Company Limited donated 300,000 RMB to construct a new 694-square-meter building adjacent to the main structure, resulting in a distinctive "品"-shaped architectural layout.

Songkou Town: Located in the northeastern part of Meixian District and along the lower reaches of the Mei River, Songkou Town is a small basin surrounded by mountains and water. Following the merger of Songkou, Songdong, and Songnan towns, it has become the largest town in Meixian District. The town comprises 41 village committees and 5 neighborhood committees, with a total population of over 69,000 and an area of 328.6 square kilometers. Boasting a prime geographical location and convenient land and water transportation, it is traversed by the Meikan Railway, Provincial Highways S223 and S332, as well as the national defense road from Baibu in Meixian to Sanheba in Dapu. It serves as a major commercial hub for surrounding towns and villages. Songkou Town was once the second-largest inland river port in Guangdong. After a thousand years of development, it possesses… More details about Songkou Town++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Guangdong Province