Red Culture in China

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Red Culture in China

Photographer: Roman Pilipey

 

Every year, millions of Chinese tourists flock to museums and sites that pay tribute to the country’s Communist Party (CCP) and its ‘glorious’ revolutionary past. Dressing up in Red Army uniforms - topped with caps bearing the communist hammer and sickle - and singing revolutionary songs, these patriotic tourists spend millions of yuan on the political pilgrimages, which are central to what is known in China as ‘Red Tourism’. The tours take visitors to historically significant sites for the CCP, battlefields, and residences of important former communist leaders. This year, with the Party marking its 100th anniversary, the stream of visitors is expected to reach its zenith.

One of the best-known destinations is Jinggangshan, a city in Jiangxi province that is famed as a center of ‘Red Culture’ for its many important revolutionary sites, including where Chairman Mao Zedong and other Communist Party leaders created the first rural base for the revolution in 1927.

After enjoying a meal in aptly-decorated revolutionary restaurants, the tour groups, mostly made up of elderly retirees, are brought to the city’s Revolution Museum and its dozens of shops selling a range of Communist souvenirs, from tiny pins bearing Mao’s portrait, to the huge statues of him that can cost up to 300,000 yuan (38,460 euros). Souvenirs and paintings of the current president Xi Jinping, who has emerged as the country’s most powerful and influential leader since Mao, are also ubiquitous.

Among other places, one of the must-see stops on ‘red culture’ tours is in Maoping village, home to a former residence of Mao Zedong, as well as the city of Zunyi, with its Red Army street and Meeting Memorial Museum.

According to local authorities, the city has generated 565 million yuan (72.3 million euros) from this patriotic tourism so far this year thanks to some 791,700 visitors who made the journey between January and March, an increase of 6.52 percent compared to last year, which was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and a general freeze on domestic and international travel.

As well as tourists, workers from state companies and CCP members also come to take classes and ‘reaffirm their faith’ in Marxist ideals at party-run centers in Jinggangshan. Here, students can visit ‘sacred’ Red Army historical sites, such as Huangyangjie. The course teachers insist that students can debate the history of the Party but stop short of saying whether discussions are allowed on some of the CCP’s more contentious periods, such as the Great Leap Forward between 1958 and 1962 that left anywhere between 15 and 55 million people dead due to famine, or the purges amid the chaos and violence of the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976. Ahead of the CCP’s big day on 01 July Chinese authorities have opened a hotline to receive tips of online comments that disparage the Party and its history - all a part of an ongoing campaign against those who disagree with the Party line or "who deny the excellence of advanced socialist culture".

Chinese visitors wait in line to enter the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021.​ Every year millions of Chinese tourists flock to museums and sites related to China’s Communist Party (CCP) and its revolutionary past. EPA-EFE/ROMA​N PILIPEY

Chinese visitors wait in line to enter the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021.​ Every year millions of Chinese tourists flock to museums and sites related to China’s Communist Party (CCP) and its revolutionary past. EPA-EFE/ROMA​N PILIPEY

A Chinese woman poses for photos in front of the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April​ 2021. Dressing up in Red Army uniforms, wearing caps with hammer and sick, and singing revolutionary songs people head for their political pilgrimage​, spending millions of yuan. In China it is called ‘Red tourism’. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A Chinese woman poses for photos in front of the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April​ 2021. Dressing up in Red Army uniforms, wearing caps with hammer and sick, and singing revolutionary songs people head for their political pilgrimage​, spending millions of yuan. In China it is called ‘Red tourism’. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese elderly men walk down the steps after visiting the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China​, 08 April 2021. Red tourism focuses on the historically important locations for the Chinese Communist Party, battlefield sites, and residences of imp​ortant past communist leaders. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese elderly men walk down the steps after visiting the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China​, 08 April 2021. Red tourism focuses on the historically important locations for the Chinese Communist Party, battlefield sites, and residences of imp​ortant past communist leaders. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese elderly men wearing Red Army uniforms walk on a street with shops and revolutionary decorated restaurant in Jinggangshan, ​Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. The large amount of ‘red tourists’ are retirees traveling in groups. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese elderly men wearing Red Army uniforms walk on a street with shops and revolutionary decorated restaurant in Jinggangshan, ​Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. The large amount of ‘red tourists’ are retirees traveling in groups. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A revolutionary Communist propaganda art painting with former Chinese leader Mao Zedong is displayed on a wall of a grocery store ​in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Located in the southwest of Jiangxi province (around 1600 km from China's capita​l Beijing) Jinggangshan is a famous 'Red tourism' site. The town has many historically important areas for the Chinese Communist revolution, and where​ former Chinese leader Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Communist Party of C

A revolutionary Communist propaganda art painting with former Chinese leader Mao Zedong is displayed on a wall of a grocery store ​in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Located in the southwest of Jiangxi province (around 1600 km from China's capita​l Beijing) Jinggangshan is a famous 'Red tourism' site. The town has many historically important areas for the Chinese Communist revolution, and where​ former Chinese leader Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Communist Party of China created in 1927 the first rural base for the revolution. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese women pose for photos as they visit the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April ​2021. Revolutionary museums across the country are one of the main attractions for 'red culture' tourists. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese women pose for photos as they visit the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April ​2021. Revolutionary museums across the country are one of the main attractions for 'red culture' tourists. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese visitors take photos with their mobile phones of a painting depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong at the Revolution M​useum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The museum has thousands of literary works of the Communist Party and stat​e leaders, paintings and videos about the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese visitors take photos with their mobile phones of a painting depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong at the Revolution M​useum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The museum has thousands of literary works of the Communist Party and stat​e leaders, paintings and videos about the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY 

Cyclists doing 'red tourism' pose for photos as they visit Zunyi Meeting Memorial Museum, in Zunyi, Guizhou province, southwestern​ China, 12 April 2021. Another famous 'red tourism' museum is in Zunyi, where from 15 to 17 January 1935, a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CCP​ Central Committee was held. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Cyclists doing 'red tourism' pose for photos as they visit Zunyi Meeting Memorial Museum, in Zunyi, Guizhou province, southwestern​ China, 12 April 2021. Another famous 'red tourism' museum is in Zunyi, where from 15 to 17 January 1935, a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CCP​ Central Committee was held. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese women and men doing 'red tourism' pose for photos as they visit Zunyi Meeting Memorial Museum, in Zunyi, Guizhou province,​ southwestern China, 12 April 2021. China has over 33,000 revolutionary sites on record. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese women and men doing 'red tourism' pose for photos as they visit Zunyi Meeting Memorial Museum, in Zunyi, Guizhou province,​ southwestern China, 12 April 2021. China has over 33,000 revolutionary sites on record. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese tourists visit the area of the Octagon House, the former residence of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, in Maoping Village, Jiang​xi province, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. Highly supported by the government the 'red tourism' is a booming industry. According to the National ​Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese government invested 2.68 billion yuan (around 341 million euros) for developing the red tourism between​ 2016 and 2020. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese tourists visit the area of the Octagon House, the former residence of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, in Maoping Village, Jiang​xi province, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. Highly supported by the government the 'red tourism' is a booming industry. According to the National ​Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese government invested 2.68 billion yuan (around 341 million euros) for developing the red tourism between​ 2016 and 2020. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese men eat in a revolutionary decorated restaurant in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Acco​rding to local authorities in Jinggangshan, this year the city has generated 565 million yuan (72.3 million euros) from the 'red tourism' in 2021. Som​e 791,700 visitors traveled between January and March, an increase of 6.52 percent compared to last year, which was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. ​EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Chinese men eat in a revolutionary decorated restaurant in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Acco​rding to local authorities in Jinggangshan, this year the city has generated 565 million yuan (72.3 million euros) from the 'red tourism' in 2021. Som​e 791,700 visitors traveled between January and March, an increase of 6.52 percent compared to last year, which was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. ​EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A woman with a cart walks past an advertising banner for a theater drama called 'My Red Army Brother' in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi pro​vince, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Propaganda films and theater plays are intensively shown across the country ahead of the Chinese Communist P​arty's anniversary in July 2021. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A woman with a cart walks past an advertising banner for a theater drama called 'My Red Army Brother' in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi pro​vince, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Propaganda films and theater plays are intensively shown across the country ahead of the Chinese Communist P​arty's anniversary in July 2021. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Participants attend a training course of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) history in China Executive Leadership Academy during a gove​rnment-organized media tour in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. In addition to the flocks of visitors, workers from ​state companies and CCP members come to take classes and to reafirm their faith in Marxism in the party-run centers in Jinggangshan. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PI​LIPEY

Participants attend a training course of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) history in China Executive Leadership Academy during a gove​rnment-organized media tour in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. In addition to the flocks of visitors, workers from ​state companies and CCP members come to take classes and to reafirm their faith in Marxism in the party-run centers in Jinggangshan. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PI​LIPEY

Participants of the China Executive Leadership Academy listen to a teacher as they attend a training course at a historical site f​or the Chinese Red Army, during a government-organized media tour in Huangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. ​The trainees visit historical sites, such as Huangyangjie, where the Chinese Red Army had its battles. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Participants of the China Executive Leadership Academy listen to a teacher as they attend a training course at a historical site f​or the Chinese Red Army, during a government-organized media tour in Huangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. ​The trainees visit historical sites, such as Huangyangjie, where the Chinese Red Army had its battles. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Participants of the China Executive Leadership Academy attend a training course at a historical site for the Chinese Red Army in H​uangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. The teachers of these courses insist that students can debate the hist​ory of the CCP but fall short of saying whether they discuss some of its more controversial periods, such as the Great Leap Forward that between 1958-​61 left millions of people dead due to famine or the chaos and violence surroun

Participants of the China Executive Leadership Academy attend a training course at a historical site for the Chinese Red Army in H​uangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. The teachers of these courses insist that students can debate the hist​ory of the CCP but fall short of saying whether they discuss some of its more controversial periods, such as the Great Leap Forward that between 1958-​61 left millions of people dead due to famine or the chaos and violence surrounding the Cultural Revolution between 1966-76. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A participant of the China Executive Leadership Academy attends a training course at a historical site for the Chinese Red Army, d​uring a government-organized media tour in Huangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Especially ahead of the CC​P 100th anniversary, the party is pushing hard. Different media tours are organized for international and Chinese media in what it is described as 'to​ learn more about the history of the Communist Party'. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A participant of the China Executive Leadership Academy attends a training course at a historical site for the Chinese Red Army, d​uring a government-organized media tour in Huangyangjie, Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Especially ahead of the CC​P 100th anniversary, the party is pushing hard. Different media tours are organized for international and Chinese media in what it is described as 'to​ learn more about the history of the Communist Party'. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A group of elder Chinese men look at a statue of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong (C) on sale in a shop of 'red culture' souvenirs​ in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Dozens of shops in the town sell all kinds of Communist souvenirs from posters ​and simple badges with Mao on it, up to huge statues priced up to 300,000 yuan (38,460 euros). EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A group of elder Chinese men look at a statue of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong (C) on sale in a shop of 'red culture' souvenirs​ in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Dozens of shops in the town sell all kinds of Communist souvenirs from posters ​and simple badges with Mao on it, up to huge statues priced up to 300,000 yuan (38,460 euros). EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

An employee displays a poster depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong in a shop, at the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jian​gxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. According to state media estimates, more than 800 million travels take place every year to 'red touri​sm' sites or tourism related with the Communist Party history and legacy. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

An employee displays a poster depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong in a shop, at the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jian​gxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. According to state media estimates, more than 800 million travels take place every year to 'red touri​sm' sites or tourism related with the Communist Party history and legacy. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A person walks past a statue of Mao Zedong and a banner reminding of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese​ Communist Party (CCP), in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The founder of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 st​ill remains a respected figure in China and is dominant in the Communist Party facilities. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A person walks past a statue of Mao Zedong and a banner reminding of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese​ Communist Party (CCP), in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The founder of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 st​ill remains a respected figure in China and is dominant in the Communist Party facilities. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A picture of People's Republic of China founder Mao Zedong is attached to a wall in a shop in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, sout​heastern China, 09 April 2021. The verdict in China about Mao is often summarised as '70 percent right and 30 percent wrong', given by his posterior s​uccessor Deng Xiaoping. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A picture of People's Republic of China founder Mao Zedong is attached to a wall in a shop in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, sout​heastern China, 09 April 2021. The verdict in China about Mao is often summarised as '70 percent right and 30 percent wrong', given by his posterior s​uccessor Deng Xiaoping. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A man boils water at home below a picture on a wall depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong during a government organized media​ tour in Mayuan Village, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. In towns and villages historically related to the Chinese Communist Part​y foundation, portraits of Mao can be spotted in homes and builidings. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A man boils water at home below a picture on a wall depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong during a government organized media​ tour in Mayuan Village, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. In towns and villages historically related to the Chinese Communist Part​y foundation, portraits of Mao can be spotted in homes and builidings. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A Chinese tourist visits the Octagon House, the former residence of Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Maoping Village, Jiangxi province​, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. Tourists visit the places where Mao lived, like the Octagon House where he dwelled from October 1927 to January 1​929. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A Chinese tourist visits the Octagon House, the former residence of Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Maoping Village, Jiangxi province​, southeastern China, 10 April 2021. Tourists visit the places where Mao lived, like the Octagon House where he dwelled from October 1927 to January 1​929. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A Chinese elderly man doing 'red tourism' walks past pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and the former Chinese leader Ma​o Zedong (R) in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Souvenirs and paintings d​epicting current President Xi Jinping can be easily found. Since he took China’s reins, Xi Jinping has emerged as its most powerful leader since the d​eath of Mao, and according to political analysts he could be the first to go be

A Chinese elderly man doing 'red tourism' walks past pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and the former Chinese leader Ma​o Zedong (R) in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 09 April 2021. Souvenirs and paintings d​epicting current President Xi Jinping can be easily found. Since he took China’s reins, Xi Jinping has emerged as its most powerful leader since the d​eath of Mao, and according to political analysts he could be the first to go beyond his two five year-terms. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY 

A Chinese tourist holds a mug with a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggang​shan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Images of Xi are everywhere, on plates and cups, walls, streets, video screens, classrooms,​ restaurants and homes. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A Chinese tourist holds a mug with a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggang​shan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. Images of Xi are everywhere, on plates and cups, walls, streets, video screens, classrooms,​ restaurants and homes. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A souvenir with a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping is on sale in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggangshan, Ji​angxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. For Xi, the 'red tourism is a big governmental project, not only from the economical side, but also​ from ideological. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A souvenir with a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping is on sale in a shop selling 'red culture' souvenirs in Jinggangshan, Ji​angxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. For Xi, the 'red tourism is a big governmental project, not only from the economical side, but also​ from ideological. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Participants look at a screen showing Chinese President Xi Jinping as they attend a training course of the Chinese Communist Party​ (CCP) history in the China Executive Leadership Academy during a government-organized media tour in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern Chin​a, 09 April 2021. Since he took China's reins, Xi Jinping has emerged as its most powerful leader since the death of founding member Mao Zedong. EPA-​EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Participants look at a screen showing Chinese President Xi Jinping as they attend a training course of the Chinese Communist Party​ (CCP) history in the China Executive Leadership Academy during a government-organized media tour in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern Chin​a, 09 April 2021. Since he took China's reins, Xi Jinping has emerged as its most powerful leader since the death of founding member Mao Zedong. EPA-​EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY 

Retired Chinese women wearing Red Army uniforms gather to sing revolutionary songs on The Red Army street in Zunyi, Guizhou provin​ce, southwestern China, 12 April 2021. Ahead of the CCP anniversary, Chinese authorities have launched a hotline to report online comments against the​ Communist Party and its history, cracking down on those who 'deny the excellence of advanced socialist culture' and disagree with the official 90 mil​lion members party. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Retired Chinese women wearing Red Army uniforms gather to sing revolutionary songs on The Red Army street in Zunyi, Guizhou provin​ce, southwestern China, 12 April 2021. Ahead of the CCP anniversary, Chinese authorities have launched a hotline to report online comments against the​ Communist Party and its history, cracking down on those who 'deny the excellence of advanced socialist culture' and disagree with the official 90 mil​lion members party. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A souvenir coin (C) dedicated to The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 100th anniversary of its founding is on display among other Chi​nese revolutionary souvenirs at the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The Chinese Communist Part​y (CCP) will mark its 100th anniversary of the founding in July 2021. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A souvenir coin (C) dedicated to The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 100th anniversary of its founding is on display among other Chi​nese revolutionary souvenirs at the Revolution Museum in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, southeastern China, 08 April 2021. The Chinese Communist Part​y (CCP) will mark its 100th anniversary of the founding in July 2021. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY