Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square

Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square

The Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a Classic Red Tourism Destination, and a Patriotic Education Base.

Haifeng is a renowned historical and cultural city in Guangdong. The Red Palace and Red Square are symbols of this heritage, located in the city center, covering a total area of over 24,000 square meters. They served as revolutionary sites where, during the Great Revolution, communists led by Peng Pai guided the people of Haifeng-Lufeng in establishing the first county-level Soviet government. Centered around the Red Palace and Red Square, the Haifeng-Lufeng Revolutionary Base was formed, becoming one of China's thirteen revolutionary bases. In 1961, the State Council approved the site as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The revolutionary history of the Red Palace and Red Square shines alongside Peng Pai’s legacy. Born in October 1896 in Haifeng County, Peng Pai joined the Communist Party of China in 1924 and was one of its earliest key leaders. He was a renowned leader of the peasant movement and an outstanding communist fighter. In 1924, he was sent by the CPC Central Committee to establish the Peasant Movement Training Institute in Guangzhou, serving as its first and fifth director. He led the people of Haifeng-Lufeng in implementing land reform, forming the General Peasant Association, organizing three armed uprisings, and establishing the Soviet government. On August 24, 1929, Peng Pai was arrested in Shanghai due to betrayal and was secretly executed by the Kuomintang on August 30 in Longhua, Shanghai, at the age of 33.

The Red Palace and Red Square are adjacent to each other. The Red Square was originally a "community granary" from the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of 12,150 square meters. Before the establishment of the Haifeng Soviet Government, this site was developed into the "Red Square" to host the celebration of the government’s founding. On December 1, 1927, Peng Pai and leaders of the Red Second Army, among others, held a gathering attended by over 50,000 people—the "Haifeng People’s Celebration of the Founding of the Soviet Government"—proclaiming the establishment of China’s first county-level Soviet government, the Haifeng Soviet Government.

In the center of the Red Square stands a bronze statue of Comrade Peng Pai. Cast in October 1986 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Peng Pai’s birth, it was created by renowned sculptor Pan He and inscribed by Marshal Xu Xiangqian. The statue stands 3.2 meters tall, reaching 5.5 meters with its granite base, facing south and exuding a commanding presence.

Within the Red Square is a memorial pavilion commemorating the meeting of forces in January 1928. These included the Red Fourth Army led by Ye Yong and Xu Xiangqian from the Guangzhou Uprising, the Red Second Army led by Dong Lang and Yan Changyi from the Nanchang Uprising, and the Haifeng Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army. The pavilion’s inscription was written by Marshal Nie Rongzhen.

The Red Palace is located immediately west of the Red Square. Originally built as a Confucian school during the Ming Dynasty by Haifeng County Magistrate Zheng Yuan in the 12th year of the Hongwu reign (1379), it covers an area of 1,850 square meters. Existing structures include the Lingxing Gate, arched bridge pond, front hall, Dacheng Hall (also known as the "Literary Hall"), and side halls, which house numerous revolutionary relics. The Dacheng Hall is the main structure of the Red Palace. In November 1927, its surroundings were painted red, and its walls were covered with red cloth, symbolizing the red regime—leading to its name change to "Red Palace."

The Dacheng Hall within the Red Palace was the site of the Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ Congress and later served as a venue for Soviet government activities.

As a patriotic education base, the Red Palace’s exhibition hall preserves over 600 revolutionary relics. These artifacts vividly depict the heroic, unyielding, pioneering, and arduous struggle of Chinese communists who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the people.

Revolutionary Site: Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square, located at No. 13 Renmin South Road, Haicheng Town, Haifeng County, Shanwei City, Guangdong Province. Originally a Ming Dynasty Confucian school (built in 1379), it faces south and retains structures such as the Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and east-west side halls. The Dacheng Hall covers an area of 240.7 square meters.

Development

In October 1927, under the leadership of the CPC Dongjiang Special Committee, the people of Haifeng-Lufeng launched their third uprising and seized power. From November 18–21, the Haifeng Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ Congress was held in the Dacheng Hall of the Confucian school, with 311 delegates in attendance. Comrade Peng Pai, a CPC Central Committee member, delivered a political report, while Dong Lang, commander of the Red Second Army of the Nanchang Uprising, and Comrade Yan Changyi also gave speeches. The congress passed eight political programs, including the "Land Confiscation Bill," and proclaimed the establishment of the Haifeng County Soviet Government. The surrounding walls and streets were painted red, and the hall’s interior was draped in red cloth, marking the birth of China’s first red government. Thus, the Confucian school became known as the "Red Palace." Many important meetings of the revolutionary government were held here afterward.

The Red Square site lies east of the Red Palace, originally called "Dongcangpu," covering over 22,000 square meters. After the establishment of the Haifeng Soviet regime, Peng Pai called for the construction of the Red Square gate and command platform here. The gate’s lintel features the raised characters "红场" ("Red Square") handwritten by Peng Pai, flanked by the couplet "Sweep away feudal forces, implement land revolution." A sound amplification platform stood at the square’s center. On December 1, 1927, a gathering of over 50,000 celebrated the founding of the Haifeng Soviet Government. On January 2, 1928, forces from the Nanchang Uprising (led by Dong Lang, Yan Changxi, et al.) and the Guangzhou Uprising (led by Ye Yong, Yuan Yu, Xu Xiangqian, et al.) successfully met here. On March 4, 1961, the State Council designated the Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Address: Site of the Former Haifeng Red Palace and Red Square, Haifeng County, Shanwei City

Type: Historical Architecture & Monument

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 hour

Opening Hours: 8:30–16:30

Ticket Information: Free

Further Reading:

· First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units