Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy in Guangzhou

Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy in Guangzhou

The former site of the Huangpu Military Academy in Guangzhou is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the Huangpu Military Academy is located on Changzhou Island in Huangpu District, Guangzhou City, China. It originally served as the campus of the Qing Dynasty’s Army Primary School and Naval School. On June 16, 1924 (the 13th year of the Republic of China), with the assistance of Soviet advisors, Sun Yat-sen established a school to train military cadres. Initially named the “China - Army Officers Academy,” it was later renamed the “Republic of China Army Officers Academy,” a name it retains to this day. The academy gathered many eminent figures and produced numerous famous generals, holding significant importance in both modern Chinese history and military history. In 1988, the site was designated as a National Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former site of the Huangpu Military Academy is located on Changzhou Island in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District. It was a new type of military school established by Sun Yat-sen during the Great Revolution period with the help of the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Union. With the mission of “creating a revolutionary army to save China from peril” and guided by the motto “Affection, Sincerity, Fortitude,” the academy adopted the experience of the Soviet military system to train revolutionary military talents. The school gathered many prominent individuals and produced a host of renowned generals, playing a crucial role in both modern Chinese history and military history. The academy operated in Huangpu through its seventh session before relocating to Nanjing in 1930. In 1938, the main building of the academy was bombed by Japanese forces. In 1988, the site was designated as a National Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Most of the buildings of the Huangpu Military Academy were destroyed by Japanese air raids in 1938. In 1965, a major renovation was carried out, largely restoring the original appearance. In 1984, the Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy Memorial Museum was established. In 1996, the Guangzhou municipal government reconstructed the site according to the principles of “original location, original scale, and original appearance” as approved by the National Cultural Relics Bureau. The foundation stone was laid on June 16, and the rebuilt site was completed on November 12, covering an area of 10,600 square meters at a cost of over 20 million yuan. It restored the offices and classrooms of Sun Yat-sen, Liao Zhongkai, coaching, administrative, quartermaster, and medical departments, as well as the dining halls and dormitories for students and faculty. However, due to tight deadlines, many quality issues were left unresolved. In 2005, another 14 million yuan was invested for comprehensive restoration, strictly adhering to the two principles of “restoring the old as it was” and “not rushing the timeline.”

In 1995, the Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy Memorial Museum was recognized as one of Guangzhou’s patriotic education bases. In 2000, it was further honored as one of the first batch of such bases in Guangdong Province. Existing structures include the main gate of the academy, the main building, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Monument, the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, the club, the swimming pool, the graves of the East Expedition martyrs, the Northern Expedition Monument, Jishen Park, and the Teaching and Remembrance Pavilion, among more than ten sites.

The main gate of the Huangpu Military Academy features a very simple style. The large characters “Army Officers Academy” on the horizontal plaque above the center were written by Tan Yankai. The gate was rebuilt in 1965 by the People’s Liberation Army South Sea Fleet. A couplet hangs at the second gate: “Only when all enemies are killed will we rest; only when the revolution is complete will we turn back.” On the right wall of the second gate is Sun Yat-sen’s motto “Affection, Sincerity, Fortitude,” handwritten by Chiang Kai-shek. Originally, a couplet hung on both sides of the gate’s decorative archway: “Seek promotion and wealth elsewhere; do not enter this gate if you fear death,” with the horizontal tablet reading “Revolutionaries, Come.” After Sun Yat-sen’s passing, it was changed to the words from his testament: “The revolution is not yet complete; comrades still need to strive.”

Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy

The main building of the Huangpu Military Academy is a two-story brick-and-wood structure in the shape of a Chinese character “日” (day), with three wings and four courtyards interconnected by corridors. At the time of its founding, a European-style gate was added in front of the original army primary school’s temple-style gate. The former residence of Sun Yat-sen, also known as the “Historical Relics Exhibition Room,” was originally the site of the Huangpu Branch of the Guangdong Customs during the Qing Dynasty, called Xuehai Building. This two-story building is a mixed structure of brick, tile, and concrete, with a construction area of 805 square meters, and was renovated in 1952. It displays precious relics such as a suitcase used for decades, a self-wheeled chair, sunglasses, an ink box, a hand-spun wool blanket used by Edmond Ho, the only foreign general in the PLA, and personal seals of anti-Japanese expeditionary general Zheng Dongguo, along with donations from many alumni.

The Student Club, located west of Sun Yat-sen’s former residence, is a red European-style building. At the center and sides of the stage in its auditorium hang portraits of Sun Yat-sen, the testament of the Premier, the flag of the Republic of China, the party flag, and large oil paintings depicting Lin Zexu burning opium, the Boxers resisting the Eight-Nation Alliance’s invasion of Tianjin, the Shameen Massacre, and the battle to capture Huizhou. The auditorium also displays portraits of notable figures such as Liao Zhongkai, Zhu Zhixin, and Shi Jianru. The “purging of the Party” at the Huangpu Military Academy took place in this club. The swimming pool west of the club was originally a small dock that was converted.

The East Expedition Martyrs’ Cemetery is situated in Pinggang to the southwest of the academy. It was built in 1925 by the Guangdong Revolutionary Government to commemorate soldiers who died fighting against mutinous forces such as Chen Jiongming. The cemetery houses the remains of 516 martyrs from both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, covering an area of over 50,000 square meters, and was completed in June 1926. In front of the cemetery stands the East Expedition Martyrs’ Memorial Archway, built in 1928, which is a triumphal arch-style structure covered with traditional ethnic-style glazed tiles. In 1936, a Memorial Archway for Meritorious Deeds and a dock were added at the main entrance of the cemetery, earning it the nickname “Little Huanghuagang.” Behind the memorial archway lies a central axis stretching hundreds of meters, comprising a memorial path, tombs, the memorial archway, and tombstones of enlisted students. To the east of the tombs lies the grave of martyr Cai Guangju, while to the west are the graves of 17 officers and generals who graduated from the academy. The cemetery was renovated in 1984 and the “East Expedition Historical Relics Exhibition Room” was newly built in 1991. The Northern Expedition Monument stands on Pinggang, Changzhou Island. This 10-meter-high granite monument was erected in honor of academy students who died in the Northern Expedition. The inscription by He Sui, acting head of the academy, reads: “The stones of Pinggang stand jagged, the waters of Huangpu flow murmuring; the towering monument stands eternal, to record history forever.” The front of the monument is inscribed with “Monument for Students of the National Revolutionary Army Officers Academy Who Died in the Northern Expedition,” and the east, west, and north sides of the pedestal list the names of 353 academy students who died, including Cao Yuan, commander of the First Battalion of the Independent Regiment. However, due to the failure of the first KMT-CPC cooperation, most names of deceased CPC members were not inscribed.

Significance

The Huangpu Military Academy, also known as the Army Officers Academy, is located on Changzhou Island in Huangpu. Established in June 1924 during the First KMT-CPC Cooperation under the help of the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Union, it was founded by Sun Yat-sen to train military cadres. Academy students participated in numerous revolutionary wars, making significant contributions to China’s revolutionary cause. During the Anti-Japanese War, the former site of the Huangpu Military Academy was bombed. In 1964, a major renovation was carried out, largely restoring its original appearance. In 1984, the Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy Memorial Museum was established. The commemorative structures at the academy’s former site include the main gate, the Sun Yat-sen Monument, the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, the club, the swimming pool, and the East Expedition Martyrs’ Cemetery. The former site and history of the Huangpu Military Academy vividly showcase the joint struggle of the KMT and CPC against imperialism and warlords during the First KMT-CPC Cooperation. The former site of the Huangpu Military Academy is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. With its rich historical relics and scenic surroundings, it has preliminarily regained its former charm, making it a great destination for travel and a fine place for patriotic education.

Address: No. 170, Junxiao Road, Changzhou Island, Huangpu District, Guangzhou City

Type: Museum / Memorial

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–4 hours

Phone: 020-82201082

Official Website: http://www.hpma.cn/

Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–17:00, last entry at 16:30, closed on Mondays

Ticket Information: Free admission. Visitors must collect a free entry ticket at the Visitor Service Center

Transportation

1. Take bus routes 43, 292, 431, 562, or 566 and get off at Xieshan Station.

2. Take the water bus from Nanfang Mansion to Yuzhu Wharf, then transfer to a ferry (fare: 1.5 yuan) to reach the Academy Wharf.

3. Take the water bus directly from Tianzi Wharf or Nanfang Mansion.

Changzhou Subdistrict: Established in August 2002, Changzhou Subdistrict is located in the southwest of Huangpu District and is an independent island at the mouth of the Pearl River. It is home to the famous former site of the Huangpu Military Academy. To the southeast, it is connected by a bridge to Xiaoguwei in Xinzao Town, Panyu District; to the west, it faces Haizhu District; and to the north, it faces the old port of Huangpu across the river. The subdistrict covers a total area of 11.5 square kilometers, including 8.5 square kilometers of land area. By the end of 2003, it had 177 hectares of arable land and 1,146.5 mu of forested hills; it comprises four community neighborhood committees—Shenjing, Changzhou, Huangchuan, and Meiyuan—and 36 resident groups; it has a registered population of 6,231 households totaling 20,935… (Detailed information about Changzhou Subdistrict++)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units