Site of the Former Pingmin Women's School

　　The Pingmin Women's School was the first school established in China to train women cadres. Its former site is located at No. 632A, Fulei Road, South Chengdu Road, Shanghai (now No. 42-44, Lane 7, Old North Chengdu Road, Shanghai).

　　In order to "cultivate talents for the women’s movement and advance women’s work," the Party organization placed two public recruitment advertisements in newspapers in late 1921 under the name of the “Chinese Women’s Federation,” and founded the Pingmin Women's School in February 1922. The school’s director (i.e., principal) was successively held by Li Da and Cai Hesen, with assistance from Wang Huiwu (Li Da’s wife), Xiang Jingyu, and others. Party leaders and well-known figures such as [name redacted], Li Da, Chen Wangdao, Shao Lizi, Shen Yanbing, and Shen Zemin often came here to give lectures. There were over 30 students, among whom the more notable ones included Wang Jianhong, Wang Yizhi, Ding Ling, and Qian Xijun. The school offered courses in Chinese, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, as well as economics, pedagogy, and sociology, and frequently invited teachers to give speeches on issues related to the women’s movement. Zhang Tailei and [name redacted] also visited the school to introduce the Russian revolution and its construction. The Pingmin Women's School implemented a work-study program, with an in-house garment-making group and a sock-knitting group that produced clothing and sold products. Under the Party’s leadership, the students also actively participated in social activities and the labor movement. In late 1922 and early 1923, the school closed due to financial difficulties and other reasons, and some students later transferred to Shanghai University or its affiliated high school.

　　The Pingmin Women's School trained a large number of women cadres for the Party and the revolution, leaving a precious page in the history of the women’s movement. In May 1984, the site was designated as a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In September 2002, it was named a Shanghai Women’s Education Base by the Shanghai Women’s Federation.