Sharing storied past of a nation
A dedicated team runs the site of the First National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai
In light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China this year, the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai is currently undergoing renovation and is expected to reopen this year to mark the occasion.
Despite the venue’s temporary closure since November, a team of 10 people from the site’s communication and education department has been working to design a tour of the new venue, organize related educational activities and draft speeches.
“Renovation details are confidential at present, but generally, the place will be more spacious with diverse exhibits and multimedia interactive devices,” said Li Xintong, a team member.
Housed in a restored shikumen building — characterized by traditional Shanghainese architecture — in the city’s central Huangpu district, the historic place is situated on the site where 13 Chinese delegates and two foreign delegates from Communist International convened the first National Congress in July 1921. The venue has been open to the public since 1952.
For decades, the team has been interpreting the exhibits, maintaining the venue’s daily order, and devising plans to bring this part of Chinese history to a wider audience in an engaging manner.
In 2017, President Xi Jinping and the other six members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the memorial, demonstrating the leadership’s belief in staying true to the Party’s original aspirations and serving the people. The annual visitor numbers have almost doubled since that visit, from 832,675 in 2017, of which 1 percent were expats, to 1,401,257 in 2019, including more than 22,000 foreigners.
“The site does not just showcase cultural relics or tell stories. What lies at the core of its function is showcasing the spirit of how the Party has grown from some 50 members a century ago to the world’s largest political party with over 91 million members. It also provides the audience a broader understanding of the Party’s faith and missions during its founding period through our demonstration and educational activities,” said Li.
To actively involve visitors with different backgrounds in the demonstration, the team customizes how they engage different demographics.
“For foreign audiences, for example, we should know their nationalities and professional backgrounds, so that we can highlight the key points that they may be familiar with. The history and culture of countries they are from are also vital for us to strive for objectivity in interpretation,” she said.
In addition to audio guides launched in 2019, volunteers wellversed in multiple languages have
been recruited to assist at the site as well.
According to team member Tang
Wenqiong, 25 volunteers have joined the group to help with the tours.
“Our efforts have paid off. Many
expats have told us that they are curious about China’s history after witnessing its rapid development in the modern era. Most were surprised after the visit, especially when watching a short video reviewing the milestones of the Party’s history,” said Li.
As for children, the team uses simple words and games to pique their interest. Li said they once asked children to draw the place where they think the Party was founded in Shanghai, and many sketched a shikumen building.
“We offer them a platform to showcase their imagination and hope that the kids would love their hometown more after the visit,” she added.
Also critical to sharing the Party’s history to more people, added Li, are educational activities, such as those that involve leading visitors in taking
the Party member admission oath in the memorial hall, as well as cooperating with cinemas to show the Party’s development through historical movies.
Because of COVID-19, the team also needed to find ways to engage audiences unable to visit the physical site. These include an online map on WeChat created by the team that allows people to explore architecture related to the Party near their homes.
As one of the first public places to reopen after a temporary closure due to the pandemic, the memorial also hosted a livestreamed demonstration in March to keep audiences engaged remotely.
“It was my first time hosting a livestream. I was nervous, as there’s no direct audience interaction and it lasted for an hour, almost double the normal interpretation time. Much preparation had to be done to make the presentation interesting,” said Li.
“It’s a great start, though. Livestreaming has been a practical way to promote the site, and I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of the history via the unique experience.”
This sentiment was echoed by Li Boning, another team member.
“When I learn more about the Party’s history at work, I know the country has gone through twists and turns in the initial stage, and has grown steadily through the decades,” said Li Boning.
“Persistence and endeavor — these are qualities that I’ve learned which are sure to influence my life,” she said.