Wednesday, September 21, 2011 | By: Nicholas Richards (芮尼克)

Wondering where to go for the October holiday? These four places are perfect destinations for anyone looking to celebrate the founding of the People’s Rebublic of China with a little revolutionary gusto.

1. The South Lake, or Nanhu(南湖), a scenic spot in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, is a must-go if you want to trace the birth place of the Communist Party of China. On July 30, 1921, members of the First National Congress of the CPC moved their talks to Jiaxing from Shanghai’s French concession when they discovered they were being followed by spies. They resumed their last day’s meeting on a pleasure boat on Jiaxing’s South Lake.
2. Jinggangshan(井冈山), located in southern Jiangxi Province, is known as “The Cradle of the Chinese Revolution” In October 1927, the Red Army led by Mao Zedong established thir first rural revolutionary base in Jinggangshan to strategically take control of areas where the Chinese Nationalist Party were weak. Go there to experience the Red Army’s renowned strategy, “encircle the cities from the countryside and seize power with armed peasants.”
3. Yan’an(延安) is a city in northern Shaanxi Province with historical military signifance.It is popularly known as “the holy land of the Chinese revolution.” Boasting over 140 old sites that have been preserved as memorials, including the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, it is the perfect destination if you are seeking to re-visit the CPC’s struggle against the Japanese during the 1930s.
4. Shaoshan(韶山), a city in mid Hunan Province, is the hometown of Mao Zedong, the first chairman of the PRC. Here you will find everything related to Mao from his old house to “dishes of the Mao family” to novel memorabilia. It is a great place to explore how Mao passed his early days while indulging your eyes in breathtaking scenery.

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