[New Yunnan Notes] Zhu De's Former Residence: A Careful Reflection on His Integrity and Honesty, a Virtue That Lasts Forever

Number of days: 4 days
Time: February
Updated: 2025.04.06

[New Yunnan Notes] Zhu De's Former Residence, Thoughts on the Clean Garden, Integrity and Honesty, and the Flowing Grace of Virtue

Leaving Daguan Park, I hailed a taxi and headed for Zhu De's Former Residence. The driver looked puzzled: "Zhu De's Former Residence? No one's ever taken a taxi there. I need to check the directions." I quickly added, "It's by Cuihu Lake." The driver handed me his phone and asked, "Is that the first search result?" I nodded in confirmation.

After driving for over twenty minutes, we arrived at an intersection. The driver pointed to the street and said, "Look, there's a sign. Just walk in from here." On the wall at the intersection was a relief portrait of Zhu De, with a sign next to it: Yunnan is my second hometown - Zhu De. I've always been curious: Marshal Zhu De, a native of Sichuan, would have a former residence in Kunming. Yunnan was the starting point of Zhu De's revolutionary journey. In 1909, Zhu De arrived in Kunming and was admitted to the Yunnan Army Academy. After graduating with honors in 1911, he joined the Xinhai Revolution and participated in the Double Ninth Festival Uprising in Kunming. In 1915, he participated in the "National Protection Movement." Due to his bravery and outstanding military achievements, he was promoted to brigadier general and later served as director of the Yunnan Police Department. In 1921, Zhu De purchased two residences: No. 4 Honghua Lane, Shuijinggong, and No. 3 Xiaomeiyuan Lane, on the west side of Wuhua Mountain in Kunming. No. 3 Xiaomeiyuan Lane was named "Jieyuan" and became his last residence in Yunnan. It was from here that Zhu De embarked on the path of communist revolution. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhu De donated "Jieyuan" to the Yunnan Provincial People's Government. Because of this experience, Zhu De fondly stated, "Yunnan is my second home, with its glorious revolutionary tradition. I will never forget Yunnan." The Zhu De Former Residence in Kunming, located at No. 4 Honghua Lane, Shuijinggong, and No. 3 Xiaomeiyuan Lane, on Huashan West Road in Wuhua District, Kunming, witnessed a major turning point in Zhu De's life. The residence consists of two courtyards, one east and one west. Both houses are in a typical residential style, exuding a rich historical atmosphere. Zhu De's former residence at No. 3 Xiaomeiyuan Lane is a two-story brick-and-wood structure with a garden, designed and planned by him. It served as not only his home but also the historical starting point of his quest for truth, his commitment to saving the nation and its people, and his journey toward communism. While No. 4 Honghua Lane features a traditional Chinese earthenware courtyard, No. 3 Xiaomeiyuan Lane blends Chinese and Western brick-and-wood features. Zhu De, a lifelong lover of orchids, planted the "Four Gentlemen" (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum) in his courtyard to symbolize his noble character. He also named his residence "Jieyuan" (Jie Garden), expressing his commitment to self-purification. The courtyard features gardens, rockery, ponds, thatched pavilions, bridges, and stone paths, creating a tranquil and peaceful environment. In 1987, the Zhu De Former Residence Memorial Hall in Kunming was designated a provincial key cultural relic protection site. In 1999, it became a provincial patriotic education base. Yunnan Province initiated renovations in 2015, and in 2021, it was designated a Yunnan Provincial Integrity Education Base.

In front of the former residence memorial hall is a newly built red cultural square, where many children play, laugh, chase, and run. In the square stands a stone engraved with Zhu De's handwritten words "Revolution to the End." On the cement floor, vertically inscribed with "Unwavering Commitment to Pursue Truth" faces the stone, demonstrating Marshal Zhu De's unwavering revolutionary conviction. I took a short video in the small square. Before entering the memorial, the security guard reminded me: "You can only take photos inside, not videos."

src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/1mf3412000jm0ol2255F2_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" />

Following the signs, we climbed a few steps from the side door to another two-story building, which served as the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall on the first floor of the memorial hall houses the special exhibition "Zhu De in Yunnan." It is divided into seven sections: "Joining the Army in Kunming," "Revolutionary Learning at the Military Lecture Hall," "Going to the Battlefield during the 1911 Revolution," "The Famous National Protection General Shocks Southern Sichuan," "Jieyuan's Concerns," "The Long March Through Yunnan," and "Inspecting Yunnan." Through pictures and text, it showcases Zhu De's magnificent revolutionary experiences, including studying in Yunnan, participating in the Double Ninth Uprising of the 1911 Revolution, and the National Protection War.

In the exhibition hall, the bust of Zhu De in marshal's uniform looks majestic, but the proportions of the base below the chest seem slightly out of balance. There are also statues of Zhu De and his teacher, both of which are lifelike. Walking along the quadrangle to the second floor, one can see the exhibition "Red Yunling, Enduring Virtue - An Exhibition on Zhu De's Integrity Culture" currently on display. The exhibition details Zhu De's integrity, his moral education, and his diligence and thriftiness, vividly showcasing his loyal, steadfast, and upright Party spirit, as well as his clean and noble ideological realm. Behind the exhibition hall is a garden and rockery, with plum blossoms in full bloom and an inkstone pond that is tranquil and clear.

After leaving the memorial hall, I found a bench in the alley where I came in. The backrest of the bench was engraved with poems written by Marshal Zhu De, including poems commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Party, the Nanchang Uprising led by the Party, the Autumn Harvest Uprising, and the Guangzhou Uprising.

Zhu De's Former Residence, a provincial-level cultural relic protection site and a patriotic education base in Yunnan Province, offers a fascinating glimpse into Zhu De's early years in Yunnan and Kunming, where he lived, studied, and fought. It commemorates his enduring contributions to national independence, people's liberation, national prosperity, and the well-being of his people. Entering Zhu De's Former Residence, one can immerse oneself in the rich historical atmosphere and learn about his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of truth and his commitment to his original aspirations, his boundless loyalty and upright Party spirit, and his dedication to the people and his simple and frugal character as a public servant. Let us remember this great man's glorious life, draw strength from his spirit, and forge ahead courageously for development in the new era.