A brief note on visiting the Danguai Red Revolutionary Site in Puyang
A Visit to the Revolutionary Site of Danguai, Puyang
My New Year’s gathering with Brother Bin was supposed to end on the 1st, but people in love always want to spend more time together, so we decided to extend our sweet time together by two days.
After having lunch with Brother Bin’s family, we went to the Danguai Revolutionary Site to explore the red mark unique to Puyang and listen to the echoes of that magnificent history.
1. Preparation
· Scenic Area Information: As a national 4A-level tourist attraction, the Danguai Revolutionary Site has a profound historical background. Its opening hours vary with the seasons: 8:30–17:30 in the off-season, 8:00–18:00 in the peak season, and 8:00–16:30 in the winter. It is worth mentioning that the scenic area is open to the public for free, so more people have the opportunity to learn about this history.
· Transportation Guide: If you depart from Puyang City, you can take Bus 31 directly to the site. Visitors from Qingfeng County can take Bus 5 to the site. The transportation is very convenient, and it is also very convenient to park if you drive. We parked our car in the village.
2. Tour Route
· Red Classic Exploration Tour: When you enter the scenic area, the first thing you see is the Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary Base of the Jilu-Yu Border Region. The rich and diverse historical pictures, detailed and precious documents, and revolutionary relics that have withstood the test of time are displayed one by one, vividly recreating the magnificent chapter of the army and people of the Jilu-Yu Border Region fighting bravely and fearlessly in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. We deeply appreciate the great sacrifices and unremitting efforts made by our ancestors for the cause of national liberation. Leaving the memorial hall, we walked along the winding path to the Revolutionary Site of the Central Plains Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Every brick, tile, table, and chair here seems to be silently telling the story of the years when the leaders of the bureau commanded battles and planned strategies here. We seem to be able to see their busy and determined figures writing the chapter of revolution on this land. Next, we entered the Revolutionary Site of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which witnessed the glorious history of Deng Xiaoping, the acting secretary of the Northern Bureau, leading the army and people of the border region to resist foreign enemies and build a base. Every corner exudes a strong sense of history, which makes people feel admiration. The last stop was the site of the arsenal, which was formerly the Chen Family Ancestral Hall in Danguai Village, built in the first year of the Xianfeng period. Here, the production equipment, process flow, and weapons and ammunition produced by the arsenal are displayed one by one, allowing us to see the difficulties and hardships of military production in the border region and deeply appreciate the great spirit of our ancestors who still adhered to their beliefs and were self-reliant under difficult conditions.
· Celebrity Footprint Tour: We first visited Deng Xiaoping’s former residence. The simple furnishings in the house allowed us to feel the details of Deng Xiaoping’s work and life in Danguai Village up close. It was as if we could see him working day and night under the dim light for the development of the border region. Then, we visited the former residences of Song Renqiong, Huang Jing, Yang Yong, Su Zhenhua, Cao Lihuai, and other proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation. As we walked among them, the noble revolutionary spirit of the older generation of revolutionaries came to us. The traces of life they left on this land were like bright stars, illuminating our way forward and making us feel a deep respect for them.
3. Danguai on the Tip of the Tongue
On the road to food exploration, we tasted local specialties such as cold noodles and Qingfeng hot and cold dishes. What impressed me most was the spiciness of the mustard that went straight to my nose. I heard that Qingfeng pig’s trotters are famous, but unfortunately, we were in a hurry and didn’t have time to taste them, which was a little regretful. If you have high expectations for food, the city center may be a better choice. Like us, we finally chose to go back to Wanda Plaza in Puyang for dinner, where the environment is more comfortable and there are many choices.
4. Accommodation Experience
Although the surrounding farmhouses have a rural flavor, the accommodation conditions are relatively simple. After careful consideration, we returned to the Yuelai Hotel, where we stayed on New Year’s Eve, to renew our stay. I still remember the warm and thoughtful service of the hotel on New Year’s Eve, which made us feel very comfortable. To avoid a bad accommodation experience, we chose this hotel again without hesitation.
5. Visit Experience
The biggest feeling of this trip to Danguai is that it is a niche and quiet place, but it has great historical significance. When we walked among the well-preserved revolutionary sites, it was as if we had traveled through time and space and returned to the era of war and smoke. Every inch of land and every building here is like a vivid history book, and every page is engraved with the magnificent epic written by our ancestors with their blood and lives. During the visit, if conditions permit, you might as well hire a guide. Their vivid and detailed explanations will reveal the historical background and touching stories behind each place, allowing you to have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the revolutionary history of the Memorial Hall of the Revolutionary Base of the Jilu-Yu Border Region. As the whole trip came to an end, we were deeply moved and realized how hard it was to win the victory of the Chinese revolution. Everything we saw and heard along the way reminded us to cherish the hard-won peace and tranquility of the present, inherit the revolutionary spirit of our ancestors, and forge ahead on the journey of the new era.