Beautiful, fun, and delicious, 10 Red Shantou
Strolling through the arcade buildings in Shantou's "Little Park" area, I increasingly felt the prosperous atmosphere of the past. The significance of these arcades is no less than that of Dongdan, Xidan, Dashilan, and Wangfujing in Beijing. They are deeply rooted in the local culture, and they have made Shantou what it is today.
Here, you'll find the "Former Site of Shantou Post Office," a popular spot for photos, located at No. 25 Waima Road. Be sure to step inside and check out the second floor, where you'll find an exhibition on the history of the Shantou Post Office. This building, constructed in 1922, is a two-story reinforced concrete structure in a European style. Its facade features large columns, giving it a strong sense of history. The words "POST OFFICE" are still visible above, and the building remains impressive even today.
The next day, we visited the "Shantou Opening Port Culture Exhibition Hall" located opposite the post office. This sturdy-looking building is the former site of the Shantou Branch of the Bank of Taiwan, built in 1907, over a century ago. After the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it served as the office space for Shantou West Hospital, a newspaper office, and a courthouse.
In front of the building, there are several bronze statues depicting a street vendor selling grass jelly, a Western female student, a Chinese man in a traditional long gown and mandarin jacket, and a Westerner in a suit, showcasing the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.
The statue of the female student is of Ms. Shi Meiyu, the first female student from China to study abroad and the first female Western doctor in China. She returned to China in 1920 after studying in the United States and, together with an American female missionary, founded the "En Dian Tang" (located on Waima Road, which we passed by later).
Inside the exhibition hall, you can see the historical context of Shantou's opening as a port and the city's development afterward.
At the entrance, there's a huge mural depicting the opening port culture, showcasing major historical events in Shantou over the past 150 years. Look closely, and you'll see depictions of the "Treaty of Tianjin," the train station, the Japanese Consulate, the Chao Customs, the Stone Battery Fort, the Tongwen School, and the Bethel Church.
The exhibition features over 100 precious cultural relics, including overseas Chinese letters, banknotes, business licenses, and old photos. There's also a demonstration hall showcasing Chaozhou culture and musical instruments.
After seeing this exhibition, we learned that Shantou is also a place of revolutionary significance. After the Nanchang Uprising on August 1, 1927, the troops stayed in Shantou, sowing the seeds of revolution.
Shantou was also home to a secret communication station during the period of the Great Revolution. I've seen the TV series "Top Secret Mission," which tells the story of the secret communication station in Shantou. (We visited it later.)
We learned about the existence of the Shantou Railway Station and its connection to the red communication lines, as well as the 39-kilometer-long Chaoshan Railway.
We also learned about the Japanese army's attack on Nan'ao Island in 1938, and the 265 Chinese soldiers who died in the bloody battle.
Shantou was liberated on October 24, 1949, and Nan'ao Island was liberated on February 23, 1950.
Shantou is the hometown of Huang Xuhua, recipient of the "Medal of the Republic," who attended middle school in Shantou and dedicated his life to China's nuclear submarine program.
Mai Xiande, a "People's Hero," was a war hero known to our generation. He served as the deputy commander of the Shantou Marine Police District.
Shantou is full of "stories"! When you come here, you must "check in" with your eyes. This is the spiritual food of travel!
Nearby, you'll also find the "Overseas Chinese Letter Museum," the "Deputy Commissioner's Office of Chao Customs on Waima Road," and the "Junior Assistant's Dormitory of Chao Customs." There's so much to see and learn here.
Walking along Waima Road, we passed the "Former Site of the Administrative Commissioner's Office of Guangdong Dongjiang" (where Zhou Enlai served as a commissioner during the Northern Expedition of the National Revolutionary Army), Zion Church, and the Catholic Church.
Shantou is rich in historical relics. It's not just about buildings and inscriptions, but also about its contributions to the Chinese revolution and its indelible memories!
(To be continued)