New Pursuit of Zhongshan, the Hometown of Sun Yat-sen

Changes in Cuiheng Village

Sun Yat-sen was born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng Village in Zhongshan’s Nanhu Town. Here he spent his childhood and learnt the evils of the feudal rule firsthand. At the age of 13 he left China to join his brother in Honolulu. He later studied in Hong Kong and eventually became a pioneer of China’s democratic revolution.

When Sun lived there, there were less than 60 households in the village. Now, almost 150 years after his birth, the native population exceeds 3,000. Another 2,000 descendants of Cuiheng families live in Hongkong, Macao and other places all over the world. The local annual per capita income hovers at RMB 15,000, much higher than the national average. A few years ago a number of industries were developed in the village to improve local economy, and those businesses have attracted more than 20,000 outsiders to work there.

But still tourism is viewed as the centerpiece of Cuiheng’s development, as its major appeal remains the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, attracting hordes of visitors around the year.

“We are all aware how important it was to preserve the environment where Sun Yat-sen lived, what people coming in to pay homage expect to see. This is more than business, it is our responsibility and mission,” said Zhang Jinhua, secretary of the CPC Cuiheng Village branch.

The pastoral views of the hilly region and the fame of the village have attracted a stream of artists, mostly painters.Cuiheng set up a section to accommodate them and their presence further enlivens the cultural life of the village.  

On a spare land at the edge of the village a recreational area has been built and includes courts for basketball, badminton and table tennis. And the old ancestral hall has been transformed into a cultural activity center.

Cuiheng provides for its elders beyond the state-run social security system. Women over 55 years old and men over 60 can get a monthly pension of RMB 700 and 7.5 kilos of rice. The benefits are even envied by expats who come from abroad to see their families.

Well looked after, the village’s elderly population has an active public life. Luo Zhangyou, a veteran of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), was one of them. In his 80s, he set aside two rooms in his home and opened a small library. People in the village, old and young, were welcome to come and read and make book donations. A letter thanking each individual donor for their generosity is displayed on the door for all to see. The library doesn’t have many seats or a big collection, but it is loved for its homely atmosphere and the attentiveness of its owner. After Luo Zhangyou passed away several years ago, Zhang Jinhua planned to move the library to a public building and expand its size to provide the villagers with a better service.

He Lanhuan is in her late 80s and also served in the war against Japan. The straight back and steady pace are telltales of her long years of service in the army, as are her straightforwardness and sharp sense of humor. While we were talking, she turned on a little radio on the table and national anthem filled the room. “We are living happily now,” she said.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Middle School

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Middle School stands next to the former residence of the democratic leader. It was established in 1934 by Sun’s eldest son Sun Ke following his instruction that education is the foundation of national strength and wealth. A calligraphy by Sun Yat-sen with the message “the world is for all” and the school’s name plaque written by Sun’s wife Soong Ching Ling hang in the school’s meeting room. The campus features gymnasiums, courts for various sports, pools, and a small park. These make school life here colorful.

Principal He Youlin, who has been working for the school for 16 years, drew our attention to a big stone that stands in an open space. Carved on the stone is the school motto “The motherland is above everything; serve the world with our learning.” These words sum up the ideas and beliefs of Sun Yat-sen.

Since its establishment 77 years ago, the school has developed from having just a few dozen students to 114 classes in six grades. Now it has more than 6,200 students and a staff of 2,000, and has become one of the top schools in Guangdong Province.

“The school not only pays attention to academics,” Principal He explained, “but also to the personal development of students. Tailored classes are provided. For instance for the P.E. class, students can chose jogging, ball sports, orienteering or even hip-hop dancing as they like.” During the day, the school is quiet and the students are concentrating on their studies. After 4 pm, the campus displays another scene: the school reverberates with cheers from the playground, music from the choir room and discussions from the laboratories as students take part in different extracurricular activities.