Photo from whtv.com.cn

The Eighth Route Army Office in Wuhan was an open administrative body set up by the Chinese Communist Party in the KMT-governed areas at the initial phase of Anti-Japanese War. The office was also where core leadership maintained contact with the Communist Party in these areas.

American warplanes bombed and destroyed the original building during the Japanese military occupation period in 1944. In 1978, the hall was rebuilt at the former site and opened to the public on March 5, 1979.Ye Jianying, a former senior Communist leader, inscribed the name for the museum. The hall has 13 restored exhibition rooms, such as an adjutant office, radio station, confidential office, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao’s office, Dong Biwu’s office and bedroom, Ye Jianying’s office and bedroom, Qin Bangxian’s office and bedroom.

Through restoration the memorial hall displays the great contributionmade by the main leaders of the Eighth Route Army Office in Wuhan and Yangtze River Bureau to the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Movement. It also displays the Wuhan people’s heroic achievements in the Anti-Japanese War. In the memorial hall, there are 84 cultural relics, of which six are national first-class cultural relics including a blanket that once belonged to Zhou Enlai. It also has a briefcase used by Dong Biwu, QianZhiguang’s badge, the 18th National Revolutionary Army’s badge, and the flag of the 2nd Team of Anti-Japanese Propaganda.

The Memorial Hall of Former Site of Eighth Route Army Office in Wuhan is located at the No 57, Changchun Street, Jiangan District, surrounded by local tourist attractions. Visitors can get there by Bus No 30, 60, 212, 402 or 516.