Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in Shanghai’s Xintiandi area, this museum preserves the site of the 1921 founding congress of the Chinese Communist Party, offering insights into China’s revolutionary history.
Planning your visit
Thirteen delegates met in a shikumen house in the French Concession in July 1921 to found the Chinese Communist Party. A police raid broke up the session and the delegates finished on a boat at Jiaxing. Two of those present, including Mao Zedong, would rule the country; several others were executed, defected or drifted away.
The house is preserved with the meeting room set as it was, and the museum beside it — greatly expanded for the centenary in 2021 — presents the party's founding and early years with documents, photographs and objects.
The interpretation is official history, and reading it as such is part of the interest.
Xintiandi surrounds it: the same shikumen lane housing converted into an upmarket retail and restaurant district, a juxtaposition that is hard to miss.
Admission is free with registration. Allow an hour. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party?
Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is in Shanghai, China. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party?
Allow an hour. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.
