The Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is a museum in a restored shikumen house at 374 Huangpi Road South, near Xintiandi in Shanghai. The congress met here in 1921, and the exhibits trace China’s revolutionary history from the colonial period to the present. Photographs, documents, maps, timelines, videos and reconstructed meeting rooms bring the story into focus, with displays on figures including Mao Zedong and Xiang Jingyu. Allow time to explore the detailed presentation, and check the English translations as you go.
The congress house in Xintiandi
The museum occupies a restored shikumen house on Huangpi Road South, close to Xintiandi. The building was the meeting place of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held on 23 July 1921. Its preserved rooms connect the exhibits to the site where the congress took place.
The entrance can be easy to miss. Once inside, the exhibition continues below ground, where a large museum space presents the history in a more modern setting.
A chronological account of the movement
The displays follow China’s revolutionary history from the colonial period to the present. Photographs, original documents, handwritten letters, maps and timelines help explain how events and people fit together. The presentation includes figures such as Mao Zedong, Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping.
Women in the movement also have a place in the exhibition. Xiang Jingyu is among the figures whose story is presented, adding detail to the account of the people involved. Digital screens, slide presentations and animated visuals explain historical events, while videos and murals add other ways to follow the narrative.
Meeting rooms and visitor information
Reconstructed meeting rooms help visitors picture the setting of the congress. The exhibition is detailed, so you can choose how closely to follow each section rather than trying to read every display in one visit.
English text appears on many signs and photographs, though some sections have limited translations. If you need more help with the language, audio translation devices are available for a fee. The museum has no entrance charge. Tickets in advance are recommended, and the morning is a quieter time to visit before more groups arrive around midday.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Site of the First National Congress?
It is at 374 Huangpi Road South in Shanghai, near Xintiandi.
Is there an entrance fee?
No, the museum has no entrance charge. Audio translation devices are available for a fee.
Are there English translations?
Many displays have English translations, but some sections have limited English. Audio translation devices are available for a fee.
When is the best time to visit?
Go in the morning. The museum tends to get busier around midday as groups arrive.
