(Guangdong, May 5) The Tashan Scenic Area in Shantou, Guangdong, attracted numerous tourists during the May Day holiday. However, few are aware that the site once hosted a Cultural Revolution-themed park, "Tayuan," aimed at reflecting on the lessons of that era. Over the years, Tayuan has transitioned from a widely discussed location to one where almost all traces of the Cultural Revolution have been erased. The local government now plans to rebrand Tashan into a “Toy City.”
According to a report by Ming Pao on May 4, Tayuan, located in the back mountain of the main scenic area, featured attractions such as a Cultural Revolution Museum and the Shijianshan House built across over ten small hilltops in 2005. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Cultural Revolution in 2016, authorities began rectifying Tayuan. Memorial facilities, including the Cultural Revolution Museum, were cordoned off for "renovations" and were replaced with slogans promoting socialist core values and the Chinese Dream. Subsequently, exhibits, sculptures, and buildings related to the Cultural Revolution were further cleared away.
The area where Tayuan was located is now desolate. During the May Day holiday, a father and son climbing the mountain were unaware that the altar-shaped building they passed was once the renowned Cultural Revolution Museum.
The report noted that dozens of stone tablets engraved with reflections on the Cultural Revolution by various prominent figures have been removed from Tayuan’s gallery. The museum has been emptied, and the large stone wall on Tayuan Square that once bore the inscription “The Cultural Revolution was internal turmoil,” from the Chinese Communist Party’s historical resolution, now features slogans of socialist core values. A nearby stele with quotes from former President Hu Jintao on historical perspectives has also been taken down.
Tashan is located in Tucheng Village, Lianxia Town, Chenghai District, Shantou. While the village had many victims of the Cultural Revolution, most villagers are reluctant to discuss Tayuan or related topics. According to insiders, Tayuan eventually caused significant pressure on local authorities. As Tashan is collectively owned land by Tucheng Village, political sensitivities not only hindered initial efforts to support reflection but also obstructed tourism development.
The local government has decided to redevelop Tashan Scenic Area through investment and a “toys + culture and tourism” model. This initiative, known as the "Tashan Toy City" plan, aims to revitalize the area as a tourist destination and fully "de-Cultural Revolutionize" it.
In January 2023, the Lianxia Town Government signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement for the "Shantou Tashan Toy City" project with Zhongqing Group’s Guangdong branch and Guangdong Changhe Industrial Co., Ltd. Official documents state that the project has a total investment of approximately 447 million RMB (263 million MYR) and is touted as China’s first interactive offline toy industry cultural and tourism platform. It aims to "strongly promote the transformation and upgrading of the Tashan Scenic Area."