Site of the Guangzhou Commune

Site of the Guangzhou Commune

The Site of the Guangzhou Commune is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

The Site of the Guangzhou Commune is located within the Guangzhou Uprising Compound on Qiyi Road, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province — the former site of the Guangzhou Soviet Government. The site retains its main gate, as well as three office buildings (south, central, and north) and a detention house. The south building was used for offices, the guard company headquarters, and the distribution of weapons, propaganda materials, and armbands; the central building housed the meeting rooms, offices, and the headquarters of the Workers’ Red Guards of the Soviet Government; the north building served as the military command center. The site also features an exhibition room dedicated to the history of the Guangzhou Uprising.

On December 11, 1927, leaders including Zhang Tailei, Su Zhaozheng, Ye Ting, -, and - initiated the Guangzhou Uprising. The uprising was primarily carried out by the Workers’ Red Guards and the Training Corps. The insurgent forces captured the - compound and proclaimed the establishment of the Guangzhou Soviet Government here, creating a people’s political power. However, due to the overwhelming strength of the opposition, the insurgent forces suffered heavy losses under counterattacks from three divisions of the -, as well as warships and marines from British, French, Japanese, and American imperialist forces. The remaining troops withdrew from Guangzhou. The government established by the uprising lasted only three days before collapsing.

Location

The Site of the Guangzhou Commune is located at No. 200-1 Qiyi Road, Guangzhou (formerly Weixin Road). On December 11, 1927, during the 16th year of the Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party led the Guangzhou Uprising, captured the city -, and established the first Soviet government in East Asia — the Guangzhou Soviet Government. It is revered by later generations as the “Guangzhou Commune.”

In its time, the Guangzhou Soviet Government was surrounded by walls over two meters high. Behind the main gate was a garden, with the Soviet government office building at the center, the north building serving as the command center of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, the south building as the guard company headquarters, and the northeast area as a prison. The total area covered 5,992 square meters.

Purpose

The building directly opposite the main gate was the office building of the Guangzhou Soviet Government. Facing west and situated eastward, the building has a concave shape and is a two-story hybrid structure covering an area of about 910 square meters. The ground floor housed the office of Zhang Tailei, the overall commander of the uprising, the meeting room of the Soviet Government, and a temporary medical aid station. The southern part of the second floor contained two offices used by members of the Soviet Government and leaders of the Workers’ Red Guards such as Zhou Wenyong, Yang Yin, and Chen Yu. The northern part had a large meeting room where Zhou Wenyong once convened key meetings of the Workers’ Red Guards and directed their combat operations. A statue of the Guangzhou Commune site is also located here.

To the north of the Soviet Government office building stands a two-story hybrid structure building facing south, which served as the command center of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. Covering an area of about 400 square meters, the ground floor was used as a meeting room, while the second floor functioned as the operational command room for the Red Army Commander Ye Ting, Deputy Commander -, Chief of Staff Xu Guangying, and other provincial military commission leaders. Secretary Yun Daiying also worked in a small room on the western side, drafting Soviet documents. South of the office building is a three-story hybrid structure building facing north, covering about 207 square meters, which served as the guard company headquarters and an arsenal storage. In the northeast corner of the office building is a two-story hybrid structure spanning 824 square meters, which functioned as a detention house for holding members of the reactionary regime.

After the founding of the People’s Republic, apart from the Red Army command center and the detention house, which were used by the city -, the remaining buildings were renovated in 1987 with government funding, restored to their original appearance, and opened as the Guangzhou Uprising Memorial Hall.

In March 1961, the State Council designated it as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Guangta Subdistrict: 2013 Administrative Division Adjustment: New Guangta Subdistrict

Shishu Subdistrict + northern part of Daode Road in Daxin Subdistrict (Qingfuli, Xiangya North, and Kuixiang communities) + Guangta Subdistrict

Office Address: No. 26 Yuntaili, Jiefang Middle Road (former location of the Guangta Subdistrict Office)

Guangta Subdistrict is an administrative subdistrict under Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City. Located in the central part of Yuexiu District, it was formed in July 1999 through the merger of the former Guangta Subdistrict and Jiefang Middle Subdistrict during an administrative division adjustment. The subdistrict covers an area of 0.44 square kilometers. It is situated to the east… More detailed information about Guangta Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units