Former Site of the Military Affairs Commission of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC

Former Site of the Military Affairs Commission of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC

The former site of the Military Affairs Commission of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province and a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the Military Affairs Commission of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC, presided over by Comrade Zhou Enlai in Guangzhou during the Republic of China era, is located on the second floor at 190 Wanfu Road, Guangzhou. From May 1926 to April 1927, it served as the office of the Military Affairs Commission of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and as the residence of Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao. The building is made of concrete and consists of front and rear sections. The four-story front section is at 190 Wanfu Road, while the three-story rear section with a rooftop is at 13 and 15 Dongheng Street. There is a courtyard between the front and rear sections, with iron railings surrounding each level. The building was owned by Nanhua Real Estate Co., Ltd., construction began in 1922, and it was completed the following year.

The ground floor of the site was originally home to the Nanhua Bank, established by Nanhua Real Estate Co., Ltd. The second floor, rented by the military commission, has an area of 147.76 square meters with checkered tile flooring, and is accessible by a staircase directly from the western side of the road. The entrance to the second floor is fitted with an iron gate, leading into a hall where the military commission frequently held meetings. On the left side of the hall were several desks and a hand-crank telephone, where personnel such as Nie Rongzhen and Huang Jinhui of the military commission worked. The hall also featured a set of Western-style sofas, several rattan-backed chairs, and a tea table, serving as the reception area where Zhou Enlai, Secretary of the Military Affairs Commission, and Deng Yingchao often received guests. To the west of the hall was a long, narrow room where Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao worked and lived. To the east of the hall were two smaller rooms that served as dormitories for Nie Rongzhen, Huang Jinhui, Ma Zhi, Zhu Kai, and others.

In the autumn of 1926, after Zhou Enlai left for the Northern Expedition, the military commission was led by Huang Jinhui. Before the “April 15 Incident” in 1927, the military commission evacuated this location and operated in secret. They remained active until the failure of the Great Revolution.

The exterior appearance of the site remains well-preserved to this day.

In December 1979, it was designated as a cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province.