Gutian Tourist Area is located in Gutian Town, Shanghang County, Longyan City, Fujian Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area and a national key cultural relic protection unit. The total area of the scenic area is 7.6 square kilometers. The core scenic spots include the Site of the Gutian Conference, the Gutian Conference Memorial Hall, and Chairman Mao Memorial Park, etc., making it a famous red tourism destination. The Site of the Gutian Conference was originally the Liao Family Ancestral Hall, which was first built in 1848. In December 1929, the Ninth Congress of the Fourth Red Army of the Communist Party of China (i.e., the Gutian Conference) was held here, establishing the fundamental principles of "building the Party ideologically and building the army politically".
History and Culture
The Gutian Conference is an important meeting of milestone significance in the history of the Communist Party of China. From December 28th to 29th, 1929, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Chen Yi and others convened the Ninth Party Congress of the Fourth Red Army in Gutian. The "Gutian Conference Resolution" was passed, establishing the absolute leadership of the Party over the army and laying the foundation for the political work of our army. It holds an extremely important position in the history of the construction of the Communist Party of China and the People's Army.
Gutian Town, where the Site of the Gutian Conference is located, is the core area of the old revolutionary base in Western Fujian. It is not only the place where the Gutian Conference was held but also an important part of the Central Soviet Area. During the revolutionary war years, the people of Gutian made great contributions and sacrifices to the revolutionary cause.
In 2015, the Gutian Tourist Area was rated as a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. In 2016, the Site of the Gutian Conference was included in the "China's 20th Century Architectural Heritage" list. Today, the Gutian Tourist Area has become a national patriotism education demonstration base and an important base for the education and training of Party members and cadres.
Main Scenic Spots
The Site of the Gutian Conference
The Site of the Gutian Conference was originally the Liao Family Ancestral Hall, built in the 28th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1848). It is a single-story hip-and-gable roof brick-and-wood structure building. Inside the site, the scene of the meeting at that time has been restored to its original appearance, and historical cultural relics such as the rostrum, the seats for representatives, and the slogans have been preserved. In front of the site, there are eight red characters "The Gutian Conference Shines Forever" standing tall, which is a must-visit check-in point for tourists.
The Gutian Conference Memorial Hall
The Gutian Conference Memorial Hall was built in 1974, covering an area of 86,000 square meters with an exhibition area of 11,000 square meters. The hall has special exhibitions such as "The Gutian Conference" and "The Fourth Red Army in Western Fujian". It displays more than 400 cultural relics and more than 1,000 pictures, comprehensively showing the historical background, the content of the meeting, and the far-reaching influence of the Gutian Conference.
Chairman Mao Memorial Park
Chairman Mao Memorial Park is located on the back hill of the Site of the Gutian Conference, covering an area of 200,000 square meters. There is a white marble statue of Mao Zedong, which is 7.1 meters high, in the park, symbolizing the birthday of the Party. The base of the statue is engraved with Mao Zedong's famous work "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire". The environment of the memorial park is solemn and majestic, and it is an important place to remember the great man.
The Red Army Town
The Red Army Town is an experience area with the theme of red culture, restoring the scenes of the Red Army's life and training at that time. Tourists can put on Red Army uniforms, experience the life of the Red Army such as carrying grain and making straw sandals, watch red situational dramas, taste the Red Army meals, and deeply feel the arduous years of the revolutionary era.
Cuisine
Gutian Red Army Meal
It restores the simple meals of the revolutionary era, mainly including red rice, pumpkin soup, wild vegetables, etc. The ingredients are simple but nutritious, allowing tourists to experience the arduous life of the Red Army and feel the fighting spirit of the revolutionary predecessors at the same time.
Shanghang Dried Radish
It is a specialty of Shanghang, pickled and dried with high-quality local radishes. It has a crisp and tender taste, and it is moderately salty and fragrant. It can be eaten alone or as a side dish, and it is a traditional flavor food in the Gutian area.
Eight Dried Specialties of Western Fujian
It is the general term for eight kinds of special dried foods in Western Fujian, including dried sweet potatoes, dried bamboo shoots, dried tofu, etc. Made by traditional craftsmanship, it retains the original flavor and nutrition of the ingredients, and it is a good gift for relatives and friends.
Hakka Braised Tofu
It is a traditional Hakka famous dish. The middle of the tofu is hollowed out and filled with minced meat, and then it is fried until golden and stewed. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma of tofu and meat is perfectly blended, reflecting the Hakka's philosophy of life of diligence and wisdom.
Tickets
The Gutian Tourist Area is open free of charge, and the ticket for the sightseeing bus in the scenic area is 20 yuan per person. The Gutian Conference Memorial Hall implements a real-name reservation system for visits, with a daily limit of 8,000 people. The opening hours of the scenic area are from 8:30 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30), and it is closed every Monday (except for legal holidays).
Itinerary
A recommended one-day itinerary: In the morning, visit the Site of the Gutian Conference to learn about the history of the meeting; then go to the Gutian Conference Memorial Hall to watch the special exhibition; have lunch at the Red Army Canteen and experience the Red Army meal; in the afternoon, visit Chairman Mao Memorial Park to remember the great man's achievements; finally, go to the Red Army Town to participate in interactive experience projects. The whole journey takes about 5 to 6 hours.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Longyan urban area, take the Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway to the Gutian exit, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
- Public transportation: There are direct buses from Longyan Bus Station to Gutian, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to the Gutian Conference Site Station, and then transfer to the shuttle bus of the scenic area, which takes about 15 minutes.
Must-visit Scenic Spots
- The Site of the Gutian Conference - A turning point in China's revolutionary history.
- The Gutian Conference Memorial Hall - Comprehensively understand the history of the Gutian Conference.
- Chairman Mao Memorial Park - A solemn place to remember the great man.
- The Red Army Town - An immersive experience of red culture.
Tour Suggestions
- Reserve the visiting quota of the Gutian Conference Memorial Hall in advance.
- Dress solemnly and appropriately to respect the atmosphere of the revolutionary holy land.
- Set aside enough time and listen carefully to the explanation.
- Participate in interactive experience projects to deepen the understanding.
- Combine the study of the Party's history to improve the visiting gains.
Notes
- Keep quiet and do not make loud noises.
- Observe the visiting order and do not touch the exhibits.
- Protect the environmental hygiene and do not litter.
- It is prohibited to bring dangerous goods into the area.
- Turn off the flash when taking photos.