Site of Gutian Congress, Historical congress building in Gutian, China

The Gutian Congress Site is the former Liao ancestral hall, also called Wanyuan Shrine, built in 1848 at the foot of Bijia Hill in Gutian. The single-storey brick-and-timber courtyard building faces west, with a front yard, front hall, open well and rear hall in line; the rear hall held the 1929 congress, and side rooms served as offices for Mao Zedong, Chen Yi and Zhu De.

In December 1929, communist party leaders gathered at this location to establish fundamental principles of military control and party organization. This meeting marked a turning point in the party's strategy regarding its military structures.

The building shows architectural elements from early 20th century Fujian Province, where regional construction methods shaped the design of meeting spaces. The traditional style with sloped roofs and wooden beams remains visible throughout the site.

The site is best explored on foot, as the buildings are arranged in a compact area and easily connected for walking through. Guided tours with exhibitions and documentary materials are available on site to help understand what took place in the different rooms.

The building began as the Liao family ancestral hall, also called Wanyuan Ci, built in 1848. In 1917 Gutian's first primary school, Hesheng Primary School, opened inside it, and in May 1929 the Red Army renamed it Shuguang Primary School, so the congress met in a schoolhouse.