Historical CPC site gets a makeover
Shanghai venue commemorating the 1922 meeting where Party Constitution was launched reopens
After nearly half a year of renovations, the Memorial for the Site of the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai was reopened to the public in May. The birthplace of the CPC Constitution was reopened just in time for the upcoming centenary of the Party’s founding in July.
Located in downtown Jing’an district, the site is where the second national congress of the CPC took place from July 16 to 23, 1922. The CPC Constitution marked the completion of the Party’s founding.
The second national congress also marked the first time an anti-imperialist and anti-feudal democratic revolutionary program was put forward. The public declaration of the CPC Manifesto, the decision to join the Comintern, and the “Long Live the Communist Party of China” slogan were also unveiled at the congress.
That congress was attended by just 12 members. Today, the Party has grown to become the world’s largest political party with more than 91 million members.
Officials say that the facelift given to the shikumen — a typical Shanghai house with a courtyard and black gates encased in stone frames — and upgrades to the exhibits were meant to showcase how the century-old Party is now in its best years.
“The renovation over the past six months is intended to enrich visitors’ experience and restore the original look of this venue that has a special place in history,” said You Wei, Party branch secretary and deputy director of the memorial.
Changes to the format and some items of the exhibition hall are evident following the renovation work.
In the oath-taking area, a Party flag has been added. Here, visitors who are Party members can pose for a photo with one of the many Party emblems affixed to the wall.
“Many Party branches come here for educational activities and some would like to renew their oath to the Party at such a historic venue,” You said. “A better atmosphere helps to create a more solemn feeling.”
In the main hall, there is a wall showcasing the 12 attendees of the 1922 congress. When looking at this wall from afar, the background of the photos appears white, but up close, it becomes transparent, allowing visitors to view the outdoor area and the architecture of the shikumen.
The change in the degree of transparency is made possible with electricity control. This special feature is meant to improve light flow in the exhibition hall and help create an illusion that the 12 attendees are present in the room.
On May 11, more than 20 members of a Shanghai society branch researching the history of the New Fourth Army visited the memorial. Many of them are the descendants of soldiers from a unit led by the CPC during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
Zhu Xiaorong, head of the branch, said the visit helped enrich his understanding of Party history. Zhu’s parents were members of the New Fourth Army.
In February, President Xi Jinping wrote a letter to more than 40 centenarian
veterans of the New Fourth Army in Shanghai.
In the letter, Xi underlined the importance of telling more stories about the CPC and its glorious traditions to guide Party members, especially those from the younger generations, so as to remain true to the Party’s original aspirations.
Li Shijie is in his early 20s and is a member of the armed police force in Shanghai. He was chosen to be a narrator at the memorial site about half a year ago.
“I need to prepare for any queries that may be raised by visitors,” Li said. “It’s not enough to simply memorize the narration materials provided by the memorial. I have to think ahead.”
Yang Zenan, an instructor with the armed police team that Li works with, said a deeper understanding of history helps people learn more about society’s value system and gain more confidence in the country’s present and future.
“The opportunity to narrate at the site is also a chance to enhance ourselves. Learning the Party’s history and telling it to more people have been popular among many of us over the years,” Yang said.
On the renovation of the building, You said the project strictly followed the guidelines of restoring cultural relics to their original state. She recalled the difficulties in restoring eight gates and their related architecture at Middle Yan’an Road. The restoration had to undergo 12 delicate procedures.
Wu Gongbao, leader of the maintenance team, said the workers had to carefully peel off the multiple layers of other restoration works carried out over the past few decades from the building’s surface.
“After three days of polishing the original brick layer, we painted the wall with a whitewash that was created using a special process,” he said.