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| Yan'an - Symbol of the Chinese Revolution |
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Yan'an is located on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province.
The old town nestles against Phoenix Hill (Fenghuangshan), with Precious
Pagoda Hill (Baotashan) to its east, Cool Hill (Qingliangshan) to
its northeast, and the Yanhe River flowing by. The town was of great
strategic importance in ancient wars, and is steeped in revolutionary
traditions. It was here that Li Zicheng (1706-1645) and Zhang Xianzhong
(1606-1646) launched an armed peasant rebellion which overthrew the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). And it was here, in October 1935, that the
Chinese Worker's and Peasants' Red Army, after completing the 12,500
kilometers Long March, established a revolutionary base against the
Japanese aggression. From 1937 to 1947, Yan'an was the seat of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Thousands
upon thousands of patriotic Chinese youths came here to join the revolutionary
ranks against the Japanese invaders. During those hard years, they
lived in caves, ate the millet they themselves grew and won the final
victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. After
the liberation of the country in 1949, places of historical significance
relating to the revolution were preserved in Yan'an and have been
visited by many from both home and abroad.
- Yan'an Precious Pagoda
This pagoda on Precious Pagoda Hill to the east of Yan'an was built
during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but reconstructed during the
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It has become a symbol of the Chinese
revolution, since the CPC established its headquarters in Yan'an
in July 937.
- Yangjialing Village
It was in this historical site about three kilometers northwest
of Yan'an that the CPC Central Committee led the War of Resistance
Against Japanese Aggression. At the entrance is an auditorium, a
vaulted brick and wood structure. The small building at the rear
used to be the office of the Central Committee's General Affairs
Department. Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, and other leaders of
the revolution had their residences on a small hill in the north.
An exhibition hall has been built there to show the revolutionary
activities of the leaders and the people in Yan'an.
- Date Garden
This site, ten kilometers northwest of Yan'an, used to be where
the Secretariat of CPC Central Committee operated. It was here the
Secretariat directed the war against the Japanese invaders, the
CPC's Rectification Movement of 1942, and the production drives
launched in 1941 and 1942 to feed and cloth the people and army
and maintain the war. Military attacks by the Japanese and economic
blockade by the Kuomintang had made the production drive absolutely
necessary. Here, Mao Zedong wrote many of his revolutionary works.
The Date Garden, full of trees and flowers, is a beautiful place
to visit.
- Cool Hill
During the War of Resistance, the Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua
Broadcasting Station, and Jiefang Ribao (Liberation Daily) all had
their offices here. There is a stone cave on this hill called Ten-Thousand
Buddha Cave (Wanfodong) which was carved out during the Tang (618-
907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. It contains more than ten thousand
Buddhist sculptures. The Moon Well (Yue'erjing), the Piba Bridge,
and many other scenic spots with fancy names on the hill are all
connected with beautiful legends. |
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