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Chinese Communist Party’s 90th anniversary

Bo Xilai, during his time as Communist Party head in Chongqing, initiated a campaign in summer 2011 to promote “Red Culture” to remind residents of the past glories of the party.

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June 26, 2011

Yin Letong, age 10, shows her fighting spirit as she poses with a toy gun and dressed in a mock Red Army uniform at a "red tourist" site here in Yan'an. This remote mountain outpost in central Shaanxi Province served as headquarters of Mao Zedong and his Red Army at the end of the famous Long March, when retreating Communist troops arrived here in 1935. Yan'an is now considered the birthplace of China's Communist revolution, and the area has been attracting a wave of tourists as China celebrates the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Fan Keyi, in glasses, and her friend Yin Letong, both age 10, show their red spirit during a visit to Yang Jialing mountainside in Yan'an. Tourists visiting his remote mountain outpost in central Shaanxi Province -- the onetime headquarters of Mao Zedong -- can rent mock Red Army uniforms, and pose for photographs in front of a giant portrait of the late Communist Party chairman.

June 26, 2011

Fan Keyi, in glasses, and her friend Yin Letong, both age 10, show their red spirit during a visit to Yang Jialing mountainside in Yan'an. Tourists visiting his remote mountain outpost in central Shaanxi Province -- the onetime headquarters of Mao Zedong -- can rent mock Red Army uniforms, and pose for photographs in front of a giant portrait of the late Communist Party chairman.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

In the park called Zao Yuan, or 'Date Garden,' tourists crowd to see the house where Mao Zedong lived from 1943 until 1945. This garden and other 'red tourist' sites around Yan'an in Shaanxi Province have been attracting a wave of tourists because of the 90th anniversary this year of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the world's largest political party with 80 million members. The Party has been dealing with problems of corruption in its ranks, and social tensions in the country because of issues like the growing wealth gap and rising inflation, and party leaders have been looking to this anniversary, and the increase in 'red tourism,' to rekindle the revolutionary spirit.

June 26, 2011

In the park called Zao Yuan, or "Date Garden," tourists crowd to see the house where Mao Zedong lived from 1943 until 1945. This garden and other "red tourist" sites around Yan'an in Shaanxi Province have been attracting a wave of tourists because of the 90th anniversary this year of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the world's largest political party with 80 million members. The Party has been dealing with problems of corruption in its ranks, and social tensions in the country because of issues like the growing wealth gap and rising inflation, and party leaders have been looking to this anniversary, and the increase in "red tourism," to rekindle the revolutionary spirit.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Statues of five key revolutionary leaders stand in the park called Zao Yuan, or 'Date Garden.' They are, from left, Ren Bishi (in the eyeglasses), Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong (front and center), Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De.

June 26, 2011

Statues of five key revolutionary leaders stand in the park called Zao Yuan, or "Date Garden." They are, from left, Ren Bishi (in the eyeglasses), Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong (front and center), Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

This simple, small cement building, with long wooden benches and fading images of Communist icons like Stalin, Lenin, Marx and Engels was once the main auditorium for the Communist Party of China, holding the Seventh Party Congress in June 1945. China's omnipresent Communist Party today has 80 million members and more ornate structures in Beijing and provincial capitals around the country, but tourists have been flocking to this remote mountain village to get a taste of the Party's more humble origins. China is experiencing a wave of 'red tourism,' as the 90th anniversary of the Party's founding approaches on July 1.

June 26, 2011

This simple, small cement building, with long wooden benches and fading images of Communist icons like Stalin, Lenin, Marx and Engels was once the main auditorium for the Communist Party of China, holding the Seventh Party Congress in June 1945. China's omnipresent Communist Party today has 80 million members and more ornate structures in Beijing and provincial capitals around the country, but tourists have been flocking to this remote mountain village to get a taste of the Party's more humble origins. China is experiencing a wave of "red tourism," as the 90th anniversary of the Party's founding approaches on July 1.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

This remote mountain outpost in central Shaanxi Province served as the headquarters of Mao Zedong and his Red Army, from the end of the famous Long March in 1935. Mao and his followers lived here for the next dozen years, and Yan'an is now considered the birthplace of China's Communist revolution. Here, tourists in mock Red Army uniforms pose for snapshots in front of a giant billboard of Mao in the area known as Yang Jialing, which has become a veritable shrine to Mao and 'red culture.'

June 26, 2011

This remote mountain outpost in central Shaanxi Province served as the headquarters of Mao Zedong and his Red Army, from the end of the famous Long March in 1935. Mao and his followers lived here for the next dozen years, and Yan'an is now considered the birthplace of China's Communist revolution. Here, tourists in mock Red Army uniforms pose for snapshots in front of a giant billboard of Mao in the area known as Yang Jialing, which has become a veritable shrine to Mao and "red culture."

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Young women factory workers join in singing popular old revolutionary songs extolling China's Communist Party in Chongqing, China, on June 19, leading up to the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Party on July 1.

June 19, 2011

Young women factory workers join in singing popular old revolutionary songs extolling China's Communist Party in Chongqing, China, on June 19, leading up to the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Party on July 1.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army perform during a pageant of at a government-organized pageant in a Chongqing public square in Chongqing, China. A campaign to promote 'Red Culture' in this sprawling municipality includes public singing of revolutionary songs, including this one on June 19 that attracted an estimated 10,000 people, mostly organized to come by their schools and workplaces.

June 19, 2011

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army perform during a pageant of at a government-organized pageant in a Chongqing public square in Chongqing, China. A campaign to promote "Red Culture" in this sprawling municipality includes public singing of revolutionary songs, including this one on June 19 that attracted an estimated 10,000 people, mostly organized to come by their schools and workplaces.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Students wave red flags of the Chinese Communist Party while listening to 'red songs' performed on a stage in Chongqing, China. This sprawling municipality of 32 million people has embarked on a campaign to promote 'Red Culture,' to remind residents of the past glories of China's Communist Party.

June 19, 2011

Students wave red flags of the Chinese Communist Party while listening to "red songs" performed on a stage in Chongqing, China. This sprawling municipality of 32 million people has embarked on a campaign to promote "Red Culture," to remind residents of the past glories of China's Communist Party.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

June 19, 2011

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

A woman uses the red Communist Party flag to shield herself from the sun during a pageant of 'red songs' at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China. Among other activities, the government has organized gatherings to sing 'revolutionary songs' in public parks, including this Sunday gathering, leading up to the July 1 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

June 19, 2011

A woman uses the red Communist Party flag to shield herself from the sun during a pageant of "red songs" at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China. Among other activities, the government has organized gatherings to sing "revolutionary songs" in public parks, including this Sunday gathering, leading up to the July 1 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

June 19, 2011

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Spectators donned red caps and brandish red flags of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the Chinese national flag, while listening to a pageant of 'red songs' at a government-organized pageant in a public square. Under the leadership of party chief Bo Xilai, this sprawling municipality of 32 million people has embarked on a campaign to promote 'Red Culture.'

June 19, 2011

Spectators donned red caps and brandish red flags of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the Chinese national flag, while listening to a pageant of "red songs" at a government-organized pageant in a public square. Under the leadership of party chief Bo Xilai, this sprawling municipality of 32 million people has embarked on a campaign to promote "Red Culture."

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

June 19, 2011

Performers entertained the crowd with synchronized dancing and singing of revolutionary songs during a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

A little girl waves a Chinese flag as spectators gather for a pageant of 'red songs' at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

June 19, 2011

A little girl waves a Chinese flag as spectators gather for a pageant of "red songs" at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army perform during a pageant of at a government-organized pageant in a Chongqing public square in Chongqing, China. A campaign to promote 'Red Culture' in this sprawling municipality includes public singing of revolutionary songs, including this one on June 19 that attracted an estimated 10,000 people.

June 19, 2011

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army perform during a pageant of at a government-organized pageant in a Chongqing public square in Chongqing, China. A campaign to promote "Red Culture" in this sprawling municipality includes public singing of revolutionary songs, including this one on June 19 that attracted an estimated 10,000 people.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Outside a 'revolutionary museum' in Chongqing, highlighting the heroics of China's Communist revolutionaries, these visiting Party members unfurled the hammer-and-sickle flag of the Party and recited their oath of allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party in Chongqing, China on June 19.

June 19, 2011

Outside a "revolutionary museum" in Chongqing, highlighting the heroics of China's Communist revolutionaries, these visiting Party members unfurled the hammer-and-sickle flag of the Party and recited their oath of allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party in Chongqing, China on June 19.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

A woman waves flowers during a pageant of 'red songs' at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

June 19, 2011

A woman waves flowers during a pageant of "red songs" at a government-organized pageant in a public square in Chongqing, China.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

Workers clean up and fold flags after a Communist Party rally in Chongqing, China, on June 19.

June 19, 2011

Workers clean up and fold flags after a Communist Party rally in Chongqing, China, on June 19.

Keith B. Richburg / The Washington Post

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