Meeting history

The team responsible for running the site of the Party's First National Congress explains how they're innovating to better engage the public, Cao Chen reports in Shanghai.

In light of this year's 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai is currently undergoing renovation and is expected to reopen on July 1 to mark the occasion.

Despite the venue's temporary closure since November, a team of 10 people from the site's communications and education department has been working to design tours of the venue, organize educational activities and draft speeches.

"Renovation details are confidential at present. But, generally, the place will be more spacious, with diverse exhibits and interactive multimedia," says team member Li Xintong.

Housed in a restored shikumen building－a Shanghai architectural style featuring Western and Chinese elements－in downtown Huangpu district, the historic place is situated on the site where 13 Chinese delegates and two foreign delegates from the Communist International convened the first National Congress in July 1921. The venue has been open to the public since 1952.

For decades, the team has been interpreting the exhibits, maintaining orderliness and devising plans to bring this part of Chinese history to a broader audience in an engaging manner.