Hongyan Village: Where the red spirit took root

Chongqing's Hongyan Village, which served as the headquarters for the Southern Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Office during the arduous War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945), stands as the hallowed birthplace of the "Hongyan Spirit." This remarkable revolutionary spirit, painstakingly nurtured by the CPC during that turbulent era, has transformed Hongyan Village into a must-visit destination for red tourism enthusiasts eager to explore historical sites rich with modern revolutionary legacies.

Nestled along the picturesque banks of the Jialing River, Hongyan Village owes its evocative name to its distinctive Danxia landform and the striking red hue of its rocks. In 1939, the CPC established the Southern Bureau here, with the esteemed late Premier Zhou Enlai at the helm as secretary. Tasked with overseeing the Party's operations in Kuomintang-controlled regions, the Southern Bureau, stationed in Hongyan Village, actively forged and strengthened the united front against Japanese aggression. Their unwavering efforts laid a crucial foundation for the ultimate victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the subsequent founding of the People's Republic of China. After the war's end, the revered late Chinese leader Mao Zedong resided in Hongyan Village for over 40 days, engaging in pivotal peace negotiations with the Kuomintang, further cementing the village's significance in China's modern history.