Yan’an Revolutionary Museum is one of the best final stops for red tourism in Yan’an. It is different from single revolutionary sites such as Zaoyuan, Wangjiaping, and Yangjialing. Those places focus on a specific period or a single aspect of the revolution. Yan’an Revolutionary Museum brings these stories together. It tells the history of Yan’an in the 1930s and 1940s. It also presents the key figures and the revolutionary spirit of that time.
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Basic Information of Yan’an Revolutionary Museum
Yan’an Revolutionary Museum is located in the north-west of Baota District, Yan’an City, Shaanxi Province, China. It stands on the eastern bank of the Yan River. The museum was founded on 1 July 1950. It was one of the earliest revolutionary memorial museums built after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The original site was in Nanguan, Yan’an. The museum was small at that time. The collection held only about one thousand cultural relics. In 1954, the museum moved to the former site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Yangjialing. It was then renamed Yan’an Museum.
In the 1970s, the museum changed with the development of the Cultural Revolution. In March 1970, it placed stronger emphasis on Mao Zedong and was renamed Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao’s Revolutionary Activities in Yan’an. In August 1971, it became the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Leading the Chinese Revolution in Yan’an. In the same year, the famous writer and historian Guo Moruo visited Yan’an and wrote the name of the museum. His calligraphy is still displayed above the main entrance. In June 1973, the museum moved to its current site in Wangjiaping. The new location offered more space for exhibitions and collections.
In June 1981, the museum restored the name Yan’an Revolutionary Museum. In October 2006, the original main building was demolished and rebuilt. The long-standing exhibition system was also revised. On 28 August 2009, the new building of Yan’an Revolutionary Museum was completed and opened to the public.
Exhibitions of Yan’an Revolutionary Museum
Yan’an Revolutionary Museum aims to present the work and daily life of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Yan’an. It also shows the history of revolutionary struggle by the Chinese people and the army during this period.
The exhibition follows a clear timeline and is divided into six themed halls. These are The Red Army Arrives in Northern Shaanxi, The Establishment of the Yan’an Revolutionary Base, The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, The Yan’an Rectification Movement, The Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and The War of Liberation and the March towards Beiping. Each hall focuses on one key stage. The displays use cultural relics, reconstructed scenes, and multimedia.
Yan’an Revolutionary Museum holds more than 36,000 precious artefacts. Over 1,700 of them are classified as first-grade cultural relics. One of the most iconic exhibits is an old padded cotton jacket worn by Mao Zedong. The jacket is made of coarse cloth and covered with patches. Mao Zedong wore it during his years in Yan’an. The worn cuffs and dense patches reflect the harsh living conditions of that time. They also show the revolutionary leaders’ spirit of frugality.
Another exhibit that has gained attention in recent years is a certificate made of white cloth. The award was given to Xi Zhongxun, the father of President Xi Jinping. In January 1943, Mao Zedong wrote an inscription on it that reads, The interests of the Party come first.
From February 1936, Xi Zhongxun served in the Guanzhong area for six years to defend the southern gateway of the Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia Border Region (Yan’an Soviet). He led both the army and civilians in military, political, and economic struggles. He also carried out the Party’s policy of the anti-Japanese national united front. Mao Zedong spoke highly of Xi Zhongxun for his selflessness and dedication. He praised him for always putting the Party and the people first and working diligently as a public servant.
Conclusion
Yan’an Revolutionary Museum offers visitors a panoramic view of the revolutionary years. It allows them to connect the events, people, and ideas that shaped modern China.
YPT’s China Revolutionary Red Base Tour takes visitors to Yan’an Revolutionary Museum and other places in the region. It provides a full introduction to the history of the Chinese revolution. It is also the only tour that offers a complete English language service in this region.
Click to read more about YPT‘s China Revolutionary Red Base Tour and our other China tours.
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