Xibaipo Scenic Spot in Shijiazhuang City, abbreviated as Xibaipo Scenic Spot, is a tourist attraction located in Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, covering a total area of 390,000 square meters.

Xibaipo served as the headquarters for the Central Work Committee, the CPC Central Committee, and the PLA Headquarters during the Chinese Civil War. In May 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China), Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De led the Central Work Committee to settle in Xibaipo. In May 1948 (the 37th year of the Republic of China), Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi led the Central Leading Group and PLA Headquarters to establish their base in Xibaipo. Here, the Party Central Committee convened the CPC National Land Conference, directed the Three Major Campaigns (Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin), and held the Second Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee. The scenic area comprises two main sections: the Xibaipo Revolutionary Holy Land Tourist Area and the Xibaipo Red Classic Scenic Area. Key attractions include the Former Sites of the CPC Central Committee in Xibaipo, the Xibaipo Memorial Hall, the Xibaipo Stone Carving Park, and the National Security Education Museum, forming a comprehensive multi-level patriotic education system.

On August 29, 2011, Xibaipo Scenic Area in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, was officially rated as a National AAAAA-Level Tourist Attraction by the National Tourism Scenic Area Quality Rating Committee.

Origin of the Place Name

Xibaipo was first established during the Tang Dynasty, originally named “Baibu” (柏卜), derived from the lush cypress trees on the hillside behind the village. In the Later Zhou Dynasty of the Five Dynasties period (10th century CE), the Hutuo River flooded, destroying the original Baibu Village. During the early Song Dynasty (early 10th century), some villagers relocated to the foot of the northern hillside to establish a new settlement. As it lay west of Dongbaibu (East Baibu), separated by reed marshes, it was named “Xibaibu” (West Baibu). In the Republic of China era (1912-1949), village teacher Qi Yujun proposed changing the character “卜” (Bu) to “坡” (Po), resulting in the current name “Xibaipo” (West Slope).

Historical Evolution

In May 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China), the Central Work Committee led by Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De established its base in Xibaipo. Here, they convened the Chinese Land Conference and enacted the Chinese Land Law Outline.

Then in May 1948 (the 37th year of the Republic of China), Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi arrived with the CPC Central Committee and PLA Headquarters. From Xibaipo, they directed the strategically pivotal Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns. As the final rural command post for liberating China, Xibaipo became the revolutionary leadership hub.

In March 1949 (the 38th year of the Republic of China), the historic Second Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee was held in Xibaipo, adopting resolutions on party governance and military flags. On March 23, Chairman Mao and the Party Central Committee departed Xibaipo for Beijing, etching Xibaipo’s legacy into China’s revolutionary history.

In 1958, Xibaipo and 19 other villages were relocated due to the construction of the Gangnan Reservoir.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the CPC Central Committee’s relocation to Xibaipo, the Former Sites of the CPC Central Committee in Xibaipo and Xibaipo Memorial Hall officially opened to the public in 1978.

In April 2010, under the guidance of tourism authorities at all levels, Xibaipo Scenic Area initiated its bid for National AAAAA-Level Tourist Attraction status.

Geographical Environment

• Location
  
  • Xibaipo Scenic Area is situated along Yingbin Road in Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains and backed by Beijing and Tianjin, it lies 90 kilometers from downtown Shijiazhuang. The scenic area spans 390,000 square meters.

• Climate Features
  
  • Located in the warm temperate zone, Xibaipo experiences a semi-arid continental monsoon climate characterized by four distinct seasons: cold and dry winters, hot and rainy summers. The annual average temperature is 12.5°C.

Scenic Area Layout

Xibaipo Scenic Area is divided into two main sections: the Xibaipo Revolutionary Sacred Site Tourist Area and the Xibaipo Red Grand Ceremony Scenic Area.

The Revolutionary Sacred Site Tourist Area encompasses key attractions including the Former Sites of the CPC Central Committee, Mao Zedong’s Living Quarters Exhibition Hall, Liu Shaoqi’s Former Residence, Xibaipo Memorial Hall, and Gangnan Reservoir. This area serves as the primary venue for studying revolutionary history and culture.

The Red Grand Ceremony Scenic Area features attractions such as the Xibaipo Red Grand Ceremony Square, National Defense Education Pavilion, Pingshan Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall, and Stone Carving Park. This section focuses on showcasing revolutionary achievements and the enduring spirit of the era.

Key Attractions

• Xibaipo Memorial Hall
  
  • Located within the scenic area, this hall marks the wartime base of the Central Work Committee, CPC Central Committee, and PLA Headquarters during the Chinese Civil War. Opened on May 26, 1978, it spans 13,400㎡ with 3,344㎡ of exhibition space. Housing over 2,000 revolutionary artifacts (including 15 first-grade pieces), its restored historical sites feature the former residences of Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, and Dong Biwu, alongside venues for the 7th CPC Central Committee’s 2nd Plenary Session and key military conferences. Recognized as a “National Outstanding Social Education Base” and “National Patriotic Education Center for Primary/Secondary Schools,” it exemplifies China’s revolutionary heritage.

• Xibaipo Stone Carving Park
  
  • Perched on Baipo Ridge surrounded by water on three sides, this 11,000㎡ park opened in 1997. Blending classical architecture with southern Chinese garden design, it features pavilions, terraces, and towers showcasing over 320 stone carvings by revolutionary leaders, celebrities, and calligraphers.

• Xibaipo Memorial Monument
  
  • Erected in 1993 (Mao Zedong’s 100th birthday anniversary) atop the hill behind the memorial hall, this 20.5-meter monument was funded by Hebei’s national defense commission. Renovated multiple times, it bears Deng Xiaoping’s calligraphy “Xibaipo” and Jiang Zemin’s 1991 inscription: “Remember the ‘Two Musts,’ Build Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.”

• National Security Education Pavilion
  
  • Situated at the scenic area entrance, this modern three-story building was jointly established by the Ministry of State Security, Hebei Provincial Security Department, and Xibaipo Memorial Hall. Featuring the Nameless Monument exhibition, it integrates multimedia displays, concave mirror imaging, and phantom imaging across 770㎡ of exhibition space, including 114 photos, 85 artifacts, 22 documentary excerpts, 7 dynamic models, 3 dioramas, and 1 art relief.

• Bronze Statues of the Five Secretaries
  
  • Central to the memorial hall square, these 2.5-meter bronze statues depict Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi, capturing the first-generation CPC leadership’s triumphant spirit and future aspirations during the Xibaipo era.

• Xibaipo Youth Civilization Park
  
  • Opened in May 2001 opposite the CPC Central Committee’s former sites, this 4,600㎡ park features cobblestone paths, floral sculptures, and inspirational quotes from great leaders, blending revolutionary traditions with contemporary civic values.

• Former Sites of the CPC Central Committee in Xibaipo
  
  • Located in Xibaipo Village, this complex includes brick-wood flat-roofed houses (154 rooms, 232m air-raid shelters) once inhabited by Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi, alongside venues for the 7th CPC Central Committee’s 2nd Plenary Session and military operations. Designated a National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Unit on March 11, 1982, it remains pivotal to understanding China’s revolutionary history.

Related Culture

Revolutionary Heritage

Xibaipo, primarily known for red tourism, was praised by former Vice Premier Qian Qichen as “a sacred revolutionary site and tourism paradise.” On May 26, 1948, the CPC Central Committee, Central Military Commission, and PLA Headquarters relocated from northern Shaanxi to Xibaipo, where Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi reunited as the “Five Secretaries,” establishing Xibaipo as China’s revolutionary leadership center. The Xibaipo Spirit, one of the core revolutionary spirits, was articulated by Mao Zedong during the 7th CPC Central Committee’s 2nd Plenary Session. It embodies the revolutionary ethos cultivated by the CPC Central Committee under Mao’s leadership during their Xibaipo period, encapsulating Xi Jinping’s emphasis on “modesty, diligence, pragmatism, and people-first dedication.”

Major Historical Events

Three Great Campaigns

From September 12, 1948 to January 31, 1949, the CPC directed the earth-shaking Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns from Xibaipo. These campaigns liberated the entire Northeast region and the cities of Pingjin (now Tianjin) and Beijing, effectively freeing the Huai-Hai River area and North China from Kuomintang control.

Three Pivotal Conferences

• September Political Bureau Enlarged Meeting (September 8-13, 1948): This meeting deployed strategic tasks to overthrow the Kuomintang’s reactionary rule at its roots, making ideological, organizational, and material preparations for the final strategic offensive.
  
• January 1949 Political Bureau Meeting (January 6-8, 1949): Adopted the resolution Current Situation and the Party’s Tasks for 1949, outlining plans for national liberation.
  
• 2nd Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee (March 5-13, 1949): Held in Xibaipo, this historic meeting provided comprehensive preparations for China’s revolutionary transition, laying the political, ideological, and theoretical groundwork for national liberation and the establishment of New China.

Related Figures

Zhou Enlai (1898-1976)

Born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province (raised in Huai’an, Jiangsu Province), Zhou Enlai (courtesy name Wuhao) served as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and acting Chief of the General Staff during the Xibaipo period. As Mao Zedong’s principal military assistant during the Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns, he later participated in the September Political Bureau Enlarged Meeting and the 2nd Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee, making significant contributions to the founding of New China.

Chen Yun (1905-1995)

Originally named Liao Chenyun, he served as Director of the Political Department and Secretary of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee during the Xibaipo era. Chen Yun advanced the Central Committee’s organizational development while prioritizing political education, helping numerous individuals establish correct worldviews and values. His work laid the ideological foundation for the Xibaipo Spirit.

Luo Ruiqing (1906-1978)

A native of Nanchong, Sichuan Province, General Luo Ruiqing (General of the Army) served as Chief of Staff of the First Red Army during the Xibaipo period. Advocating for integrating theory with practice, he conducted grassroots investigations to understand rural hardships, promoting agricultural technological improvements that significantly advanced rural political and economic development in Communist-controlled areas.

Value and Significance

As the former seat of the CPC Central Committee, Xibaipo served as the command center where Mao Zedong and the Party leadership directed the Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns, convened the historic 7th CPC Central Committee’s 2nd Plenary Session and the National Land Conference, and orchestrated the liberation of China. This earned it the accolades “Where New China Was Born” and “The Village That Decided China’s Destiny.”

Tourism Information

Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Best Visit Period: March-October
Recommended Duration: 4-6 hours
Admission: Free

Transportation

• Self-Drive:
  
  From Beijing, take the Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway south to the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan Expressway, exit at Shiqing, then follow Shiyan Road through Pingshan County to Changyu Ling. Turn right onto the Xibaipo Tourist Highway via Gangnan and Sujiazhuang on National Highway 207. The Xibaipo Expressway now provides direct access from Shijiazhuang, with a 40-minute drive.
  
• Public Transport:
  
  Direct buses to Xibaipo depart daily at 6:50, 9:40, and 14:00 from Shijiazhuang North Passenger Station. Alternatively, take the Pingshan Express Bus to Pingshan County Bus Station, then transfer to Xibaipo.