Kelan County, Xinzhou City – A Revolutionary Old Base

Kelan is an established revolutionary old base. During the wartime years, veteran proletarian revolutionaries including He Long, Wang Zhen, Guan Xiangying and Xu Fanping once fought on this land. Numerous ancient battlefields silently recount the extraordinary and turbulent years to later generations. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the satellite launch center within its territory made tremendous contributions to China’s national defense cause. These memorial sites radiating the light of patriotism will forever inspire future generations to march forward fearlessly and dedicate themselves to building a prosperous country and rejuvenating the nation.

It is worth noting that during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, more than 2,000 young and middle-aged men from the county enlisted in anti-Japanese troops. This figure accounted for nearly all young people in the county back then. They rushed to sign up for military service, headed to the battlefields against Japanese invaders, and rendered indelible meritorious service for national independence and people’s liberation.

On April 4, 1948, Comrade Mao Zedong, while leading the central organs of the Communist Party of China to shift operations to Xibaipo, passed through and stayed in Kelan. That evening, he listened to a report by Comrade Cong Yiping, Secretary of the County Party Committee, on land reform and Party consolidation. The next morning, he received cadres from Kelan attending the Three-Level Cadres Conference in the courtyard where he resided. Amid warm applause, Chairman Mao delivered an important speech. He analyzed the national situation of the Liberation War, highly commended the remarkable achievements of the people in the Jin-Sui Border Region in advancing land reform and supporting the Liberation War, and encouraged the masses to boost production. He also left a glowing comment: “Kelan is a wonderful place.”

The Chairman Mao Zedong Temporary Residence Memorial Hall, built on the site where Chairman Mao once stayed, stands in the middle of East Small Street in the county seat. It comprises seven main rooms, six west wing rooms and seven east wing rooms. Chairman Mao lived in the eastern section of the main house. The room is now furnished with original relics he once used, including a desk, chairs, tea sets and bedding. Rated a National Patriotic Education Base, the memorial hall receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, among whom are well-known domestic figures and foreign friends