Youth Toward Yan'an Exhibition Opens Tomorrow: Shaanxi Revolutionary Relics Make Hong Kong Debut
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago3 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong War and Coastal Defense Museum officially opens its major new exhibition "Youth Toward Yan'an" on July 28, marking the first time a collection of Shaanxi revolutionary relics has been displayed in Hong Kong. The exhibition features 24 sets of artifacts, including 9 national-grade cultural relics (5 second-grade and 4 third-grade items), many of which have never left their mainland memorial halls. Through interactive exhibits and educational programs, the museum aims to connect young visitors with the history of idealistic youth who journeyed to Yan'an during the anti-Japanese War.
Key Points
- The exhibition showcases approximately 24 sets of Shaanxi revolutionary relics from three memorial halls: the Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office Memorial Hall, the Yan'an Literature and Art Memorial Hall, and the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University Memorial Hall
- Among the treasures on display are a 1937 publication titled "On the United Front," pianist Ji Ming's German piano scores, a 1940 Anti-Japanese Military and Political University graduation certificate, an Eighth Route Army bugle, and a Youth Model Medal issued by the 18th Army Group Political Department with an inscription by Zhu De
- The exhibition venue is divided into three zones: a Thematic Exhibition Hall with three historical units, an "Interactive Yan'an" area featuring Eighth Route Army costume experiences and stamp stations, and a "Youth Classroom" education corner
- Hong Kong played a critical wartime role as a transit point for overseas and Southeast Asian Chinese youth traveling to Yan'an, while local Hong Kong youth joined the Dongjiang Column and Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Brigade to fight Japanese forces
- The museum's Acting Director Tam Mei-yee announced that last year the institution hosted over 1,600 educational activities attracting 170,000 visitors, and emphasized the goal of passing on patriotic spirit to younger generations
Why It Matters
This exhibition represents a significant cultural collaboration between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, bringing irreplaceable revolutionary artifacts to local audiences for the first time. By emphasizing the "youth" theme and establishing relatable connections between historical young resistance fighters and today's students, the museum seeks to cultivate national identity and patriotic sentiment among Hong Kong's younger generation. The inclusion of Hong Kong-specific anti-war materials—including the vinyl record "Sending Winter Clothes" recorded by singer Lin Qimei in 1938—underscores the shared historical bond between Hong Kong and Yan'an during the nation's wartime struggle .
This exhibition represents a significant cultural collaboration between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, bringing irreplaceable revolutionary artifacts to local audiences for the first time. By emphasizing the "youth" theme and establishing relatable connections between historical young resistance fighters and today's students, the museum seeks to cultivate national identity and patriotic sentiment among Hong Kong's younger generation. The inclusion of Hong Kong-specific anti-war materials—including the vinyl record "Sending Winter Clothes" recorded by singer Lin Qimei in 1938—underscores the shared historical bond between Hong Kong and Yan'an during the nation's wartime struggle .