Ruijin Revolutionary Base Museum: A Red Tourism China Pilgrimage & Visitor Guide
Introduction
Nestled among the green hills of southern Jiangxi, a rust-red complex stands quietly, each brick and beam inscribed with chapters of China’s revolutionary past. The Rui Jin Central Revolutionary Base Memorial Museum is more than a national museum: it is a living, three-dimensional history book made of artifacts, preserved sites, and personal stories. Here the birth of the Chinese Soviet Republic is documented, and the leadership and perseverance of figures like Mao Zedong and Zhu De are recorded. Wander its courtyards, touch the edge of the famed “Red Well,” and you will feel a ninety-year conversation of ideals, struggle, and memory.
1. Soul Positioning: The Cradle of the Republic, A Living Archive of Red History
“The birthplace of the provisional central government of the Chinese Soviet Republic”—this phrase captures the museum’s core value. As a national-grade museum, it focuses on the 1931–1934 history of the Central Revolutionary Base. Through over ten thousand precious artifacts and a cluster of well-preserved revolutionary sites, the museum systematically presents the early Communist Party’s state-building practices. Unlike conventional history museums, this site blends documents, reconstructed scenes, and original locations to make revolutionary history tactile and immersive.
2. Architecture and Space: Walking Inside History
The museum covers 50,000 square meters and is organized into three main areas:
– Exhibition Halls: Echoing Soviet-era architectural style, the ochre-red walls and hammer-and-sickle reliefs mark the era. Galleries follow a central axis and a chronological layout linking themes such as “Early Party Formation,” “Establishing Soviet Power,” and “Anti-Encirclement Campaigns.”
– Revolutionary Site Cluster: Fifteen nationally protected sites, including the location of the first Soviet Congress (“Yi Su Da”) and the former Central Executive Committee office, preserve Hakka-style brick-and-timber homes. Original furnishings—tables, oil lamps and the like—are on display, giving a sense of frozen time.
– Memorial Plaza: A giant relief wall portraying scenes of military-civilian unity serves as the main venue for red-education activities.
The buildings themselves are exhibits: designers intentionally left bullet marks and slogans on the earthen walls, and many paving stones were quarried locally, reinforcing the revolutionary spirit of “rooted among the people.”
3. Treasures of the Museum: Artifacts as Faith and Memory
– The “Red Well” and Stone Inscription: Dug under Mao Zedong’s direction to provide drinking water for the Shazhouba villagers, the well and the stone tablet inscribed “When you drink, remember the well-digger” symbolize Party-people solidarity. Touch the well’s rope marks and imagine the voices of that era.
– Draft of the Chinese Soviet Republic Constitution Outline: The fragile manuscript is the earliest prototype of a people’s constitution in China. The calligraphy, faded but legible, bears witness to the first legal experiments of popular rule.
– Red Army Bamboo Salt Carriers: During the blockade, villagers hid salt in bamboo segments to secretly supply the Red Army. Ordinary bamboo conceals the ingenious bonds between army and people.
4. Narrative and Experience: How to Read This History
Guided by the theme “Revolutionary ideals above all,” the museum animates history through three main presentation methods:
– Scene Reconstructions: Miniature dioramas like the “Yeping Village Soviet Government Founding Meeting,” enhanced with lights and sound, recreate thunderous applause and vital moments.
– Interactive Installations: In the “Recruitment and Expansion” area, visitors can “claim” a virtual Red Army enlistment certificate and listen to personal enlistment stories of different soldiers.
– Live Site Dramas: Every Saturday morning short performances such as “Sending a Husband to the Red Army” are staged in the site cluster; actors in period uniforms interact with visitors.
What you will learn:
After visiting, you will better understand the formation of the “rural encirclement of cities” strategy, the innovative Soviet governance structure, and key decisions taken on the eve of the Long March.
5. Practical Guide: Efficient Touring and Deeper Engagement
Suggested Routes
– Quick Route (1.5 hours): Core exhibition on the first floor → Red Well → “Yi Su Da” meeting site (ideal for time-pressed visitors).
– Immersive Route (3 hours): Full exhibition + in-depth site cluster tour + memorial plaza film screening (recommended for history enthusiasts).
Opening Hours
8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (except national holidays).
Tickets & Reservation
– Free admission; visitors must exchange ID for an entry ticket. Foreign visitors should register with their passport at the manned window.
– Peak season (May–October): book online at least one day in advance to avoid lines.
Getting There
– High-Speed Rail: From Ganzhou Station, take the Rui Jin Red Tourism Shuttle bus for a direct 1.5-hour ride to the museum stop.
– Self-Drive: Enter “Rui Jin Central Revolutionary Base Memorial Museum” into navigation. Parking is free and plentiful.
Hidden Highlights
– Under an ancient camphor tree behind the site cluster is the spot where Mao often read; the shade preserves a tale of “meeting barefoot,” a local anecdote.
– The museum shop offers a unique stamp and an exclusive Soviet-era badge design only available here.
6. Nearby Red-Tour Connections You Shouldn’t Miss
Combine the museum with these nearby historical sites for a full red-themed day:
– Morning: Museum + Red Well Park (1 km, about 15 minutes on foot)
– Lunch: Try the “Red Army Canteen” specialties—pumpkin soup and red rice (approx. CNY 30 per person)
– Afternoon: Second Soviet Congress site (“Er Su Da”—10 minutes by car) + Yunshi Mountain (First Long March Mountain and Mao’s former residence)
Conclusion
The Rui Jin Central Revolutionary Base Memorial Museum is a warm, educational revolutionary classroom. Standing at the wooden lectern of the “Yi Su Da” site or cupping water from the Red Well, visitors feel history resonate directly. Whether you come for research, family education, or personal reflection, the museum uses authentic stories to convey the weight of “staying true to the original aspiration.” Pack your bags—this patch of red earth awaits your visit.
(Approx. 1500 Chinese characters equivalence.)
