Posted 2016/6/24
Yan'an is a small city with a very long history. Located in Shaanxi Province, it boasts a population of two million. It has come a long way since the days when a younger Mao Zedong and other founding members of the PRC made this town a revolutionary base in 1937. It was also the final destination of The Long March.
For those who are thinking about going to Yan'an, there are a few places that should be on everyone's list.
At Yang Jia Ling, one can find the former homes of leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.
Here one can find female guides dressed up in Red Army uniforms leading visitors throughout the area. Inside the area there is the famous auditorium where some of the most important meetings during the early days of the CPC took place.
The tour guides also enjoy singing old songs for the visitors.
Also at Yang Jia Ling one can watch the famous paper-cutter Li Fuai. Not only is she a talented artist, but also a great singer. Much has been written about her, and she has been featured on many television programs highlighting her traditional Chinese talents. In 1999 she visited Paris as part of a Chinese delegation of artists to promote Chinese traditional art.
In October of 1943, Mao Zedong moved from Yang Jia Ling to what is now called The Date Garden.
Zhu De also lived here in August of 1945. During this time he was Vice Chairman of the military committee of the Central Party Committee and Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army. He left Yan'an on March 12, 1947 to become Deputy Secretary of the CPC Central Work Committee.
Zhang Wentian also resided at this location. He was General Secretary of the Party Central Secretariat and the director of the College of Marxism and Leninism during the Rectification Movement of Yan'an.
Zhou Enlai moved here in December of 1944 from Yang Jia Ling.
Another point of interest in Yan'an is the Revolution Museum. It's the largest museum in this historical city.
The museum houses a thorough history of the early development of China during the years of 1938 to 1947. Old photos, weapons, and sculptures fill the various halls depicting what life was like during those formative and aggressive years. In front of this big white museum stands an impressive statue of Mao Zedong.
One thing that cannot be missed is Pagoda Hill. It would practically be impossible not to notice the tall pagoda that stands alone on a small mountain overlooking the city.
The pagoda was built during the Tang Dynasty, which ruled China from the years 618 to 907. The structure is an octagon, which stands nine stories tall; 44 meters at its highest point.
Inside the pagoda is a series of narrow steps and ladders leading all the way to the top that visitors can indulge in for only 10 yuan.
The area around the pagoda provides viewers with a 360-degree view of the city.
As a city, Yan'an could easily be classified as a living museum. There are many things here, which have been preserved in honor of the men and women who served the CPC during the early stages of the Chinese revolution. It's a must-see destination for anyone who is a scholar or fan of Chinese history.
Yan'an is just one of the many jewels of Shaanxi Province, an area in China rich with legends, history, and tradition.
