The Capital of Hakka - The Splendid Tingzhou (Part II): Changting County Museum
The Changting County Museum is one of the earliest established comprehensive county-level museums in Fujian Province, located beside Zhaozheng Road, the main thoroughfare of Tingzhou Town.
The Changting County Museum is housed in the former site of the Fujian Soviet Government, and is recognized as a national excellent patriotic education base, a national 4A-level red tourism scenic area, a national third-level museum, a Fujian provincial party history education base, and a Fujian provincial national defense education base, among others.
The exhibition hall is mainly divided into the basic displays 'Tingzhou Hakka History Exhibition', 'Central Soviet Area Red Shanghai Exhibition', 'Fujian-born Generals of the Republic Exhibition', 'History of the Fujian Soviet Government Exhibition', and 'The Red Banner of Iron and Blood - The Combat History Exhibition of the Red 34th Division', which are important venues and bases for Changting County to carry out patriotic education, party conduct and clean government education, and youth education.
On the right side of the museum is the Tingzhou Hakka Museum, which mainly showcases the history, culture, traditional arts, and cultural relics of the Tingzhou Hakka. This exhibition includes four parts: 'Thousands of Miles Southward Migration - Prosperity along the Ting River', 'Capital of Hakka - Prosperous City', 'Hakka Charm - Renowned throughout China', and 'Setting Sail from the Ting River - Towards the World'.
The central hall of the museum is the former site of the Fujian Soviet Government. On March 18, 1932, the first Fujian Provincial Congress of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers was held here, with more than 100 delegates attending. Representatives from the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet were present, including Ren Bishi, who attended and guided the congress, leading to the formal establishment of the Fujian Soviet Government. Behind the auditorium are the former offices of the eight functional departments under the provincial Soviet and the detention place of the early Communist leader Qu Qiubai.
The rear hall now houses the 'History of the Fujian Soviet Government Exhibition', which is divided into four parts: 'The Great Feat - The Solemn Birth of the Fujian Soviet', 'Striving for Excellence - A Glorious Model of Democratic Governance', 'Forging Ahead with Determination - The Lofty Monument Built with Blood', and 'Pursuing Dreams of Revival - Vigorously Composing the Fujian Chapter'.
The 'Red Little Shanghai' Exhibition Hall in the Central Soviet Area is located on the left side of the museum, containing four parts: 'The City of a Turning Point in the Chinese Revolution', 'The Economic Capital of the Central District', 'The Cultural Stronghold of the Central Soviet Area', and 'The Hometown of the Red Army Renowned throughout China'.
Inside the museum, there are two lush and vibrant cypress trees, planted during the Tang Dynasty, which experts have determined to be over 1,200 years old. These cypress trees, with their thick trunks and a height of about 12 meters, are extremely precious ancient trees in Changting County and are known as the 'Cypress Kings' of Fujian.
Changting County Museum