Sihang Warehouse Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall + The site of the first CPC National Congress guide
Highlights
โฒ The site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Originally scheduled to be held on July 23, 1921, at No. 106 Wangzhi Road (now No. 76 Xingye Road) in Shanghai, the First National Congress was later moved to a boat on South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, due to police interference. However, the main venue in Shanghai gradually faded into obscurity amid wartime turmoil and urban changes. By the time the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, the original building had been occupied by a flour shop, altering both its appearance and function. So how was the site later confirmed?
โฒ In a living room of less than 18 square meters, 13 delegates finalized the discussion on the founding principles of the Party. The Shikumen building at No. 106 Wangzhi Road (now No. 76 Xingye Road) provided early revolutionaries with a space for disguise and communication, taking advantage of the unique political landscape of "divided governance among three jurisdictions" and the high population mobility at the time. The meeting venue was minimally furnished with only basic tables and chairs, devoid of any party insignia, reflecting the clandestine nature of the struggle during the founding period.
โฒ The Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Located in the heart of Shanghai, the memorial centers around the Oath Hall of the First CPC National Congress site and the new exhibition hall, comprehensively reflecting the history of the Party's founding. The architectural complex blends retro and modern elements, offering an immersive experience that allows visitors to revisit the iconic moment when the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held on July 23, 1921.
โฒ In 1921, the statues of the thirteen representatives who attended the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Can you name them?
โฒ Nan Chen and Bei Li are widely recognized as the founders of the Communist Party of China. Do you know their stories?
โฒ The taste of truth? Do you know what truth tastes like?
โฒ The site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China is integrated with Shanghai's Shikumen architecture.
โฒ The West Wall, as the battlefield site of the "Defense of Sihang Warehouse" during the 1937 Battle of Shanghai, bears over 430 bullet holes and large artillery craters on its surface, with the largest craters exceeding 1 meter in diameter. These scars resulted from four days and nights of relentless Japanese attacks: Bullet hole distribution: The wall shows honeycomb-like bullet marks, primarily from Japanese machine gun fire and rifle shooting. The western third-floor area has denser bullet holes, corresponding to the defenders' core defensive positions. Artillery impact traces: Several massive depressions remain in the central wall section, caused by repeated direct hits from Japanese flat-trajectory guns, with*************depths capable of piercing 50cm-thick concrete walls.
โฒ The joint business office established by four banks (Yanye, Jincheng, Continental, and Zhongnan) in Shanghai, with its affiliated warehouse (Trust Department Shanghai Branch Warehouse), commonly known as the Four Banks Warehouse.
โฒ Sihang Warehouse, featuring an advanced flat slab structure (with uniform column grids), creates large-span spaces with strong integrity and optimized floor heights. The six-story massive structure measures 64 meters wide, 54 meters deep, and 25 meters tall, standing as one of Zhabei's towering buildings in the 1930s. Its thick concrete walls were sturdy enough to withstand tank artillery fire. During the 1937 Battle of Shanghai, its robust construction and strategic high-ground advantage made it the key stronghold for the "Eight Hundred Heroes" to resist Japanese forces, remaining unconquered for four days and nights.
โฒ Seeing the bullet-riddled walls, children can directly experience the cruelty of war. A parent emphasized, "Today's peace was bought with the lives of martyrs." The ruins scene triggers a deeper appreciation for peace.
โฒ General Xie Jinyuan demonstrated exceptional military leadership: With only 423 soldiers (publicly claimed as "800 heroes" to intimidate the enemy), he established multi-layered defenses using the reinforced concrete structure of the Sihang Warehouse, successfully repelling multiple fierce Japanese attacks and holding the position for four days and nights. He skillfully leveraged the warehouse's geographical features to prevent Japanese forces from using heavy weapons due to concerns about international attention, significantly limiting the enemy's firepower advantage. By deliberately exaggerating troop numbers (claiming 800 soldiers), he successfully misled Japanese intelligence, slowing their offensive pace and buying crucial time for allied forces to retreat.
โฒ A miniature model of the Sihang Warehouse.