If you are interested in Chinese revolutionary history of CCP, Yan’an is a must see destination, which is located about 400km north of Xian. Among the highlights in Yan’an, the Date Garden is an important place worth your time to explore. It was the site of the Former Offices CCP Secretariat from 1944 to March 1947.
Date Garden, also known as Yan Garden, was the former manor of the Shanbei warlord – Gao Shuangcheng. After Land Reform Revelution, it was confiscated to the people. It was rebuilt and expanded from 1941 and completed in 1943. Over 20 cave houses and bungalow houses were built as well as one auditorium.
Date Garden was the site of the Former Offices CCP Secretariat from 1941 to March 1947. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhude, Peng Dehuai, Ren Bishi and other top leaders of CCP, moved here from 1943.
From here Date Garden, in August 1945, Chairman Mao started his trip to Chongqing on a peace talk with Chiang Kaishek of the Nationalist Party or Guomingdang. In June 1946, Guomingdang waged a full civil war. In March 1947, the CCP Secretariat evacated from Yan’an after Guomingdang army attacked Yan’an. From then on, the CCP army went on a mobile fight till the founding of People’ Republic of China on Oct 01, 1949.
The Date Garden is located 8km in the northwest of Yan’an. You take Bus 8 and 13. Date Garden is free of charge.
The layout of Date Garden
This is the auditorium of the Central Party Secretariate
This is the office building of the Central Confidential Bureau.
This is the house of the Administration Department of the Central Committee of the Party
This is Mao Zedong’s cave houses with 5 cave rooms – a meeting room, an office, bedroom and asistants’ oom.
In 1945, Hurley went to Ya’an. Chairman Mao Zedong met him at the airport.
Mao Zedong, Zhude Colonel David Dave Barret of Observation Group of US Army
Mao Zedong at work in his cave office in Date Garden
Zhude’s Cave House
Zhude’s bedroom
Zhude’s office room
Again have a look at Date Garden
Any questions on Date Garden, please drop a line.