Over 1,000 sites identified as revolutionary relics

A team at Shanghai Normal University have identified over 1,000 sites related to Chinese Communist Party's establishment and revolutionary activities in Shanghai, the university announced on a conference on Saturday.

“It’s the first time for the city to confirm more than 1,000 ‘red’ cultural relics,” said Su Zhiliang, famous history professor at the university and the leader of the research team. “We now have a relatively complete understanding of former residences of important figures related to the Party and the revolution, sites of activities launched by democratic parties, secret radio stations, publishing houses and book stores, as well as schools with revolutionary history.”

The team has spent more than one year on archives research and onsite investigation to confirm the1,023 relics and historical information related to the Party.

Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, where its first national congress was held in July 1921 and many important movements took place, and the government has been digging out more “red” cultural resources.

By the end of last year, Shanghai has confirmed more than 650 revolutionary historical relics and the university team found another over 400, many of which are monuments for revolutionary activities led by the Party and carried out in all walks of life. Many are rarely known as “red” historical sites by the public yet.

The newly found sites include the Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry Shop on 432 East Nanjing Rd, where communist Zhang Renya had worked. Zhang later became a leader of the revolutionary activities in the silver and gold industry.

The researchers have also found historical photos, taken new pictures and also investigated nearby transportation so as to make it convenient for visitors to visit.

The university will cooperate with Shanghai Century Publishing Group to publish the book next year with information of the relics and related maps.

By 2021, the team will further develop an application with their findings so that users can easily check the information and map with their mobile phones.

SHINE