Is Lu Zuofu from Beibei, Chongqing?

There is a saying circulating in Beibei District, Chongqing: He is not from Beibei, but the entire Beibei belongs to him. This is Mr. Lu Zuofu.

As a famous patriotic industrialist in China, the Minsheng Company founded by Mr. Lu Zuofu during the Republic of China helped the Yichang evacuation and successfully delivered various materials, equipment and more than one million people from Wuhan. Sichuan has protected the lifeblood of China's national industry. Therefore, the Yichang evacuation was also rated as "China's Dunkirk evacuation."

Mr. Lu Zuofu’s patriotic sentiments did not stop there. He vigorously established schools and libraries, and carried out rural construction based on what is now Beibei District, Chongqing. In less than 10 years, Beibei has transformed from a rural village where "the legacy of the late Qing Dynasty can still be seen" to a town where "the sparrow is small but has all the internal organs."

Including Beibei Jinyun Mountain, Beibei Hot Spring, Street Center Garden, etc. that we know now, were all built under the leadership of Mr. Lu Zuofu. Now we go to Beibei again, passing by the sycamore trees on both sides of the road and enjoying the leisurely life like a garden city. The figure of Mr. Lu Zuofu cannot be dissipated in our minds for a long time.

So, even though Mr. Lu Zuofu was from Hechuan, people called him the "Father of Beibei" and built a Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall in Beibei to remember him.

The Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall was renovated and built on the former office site of the Gorge Defense Bureau. Mr. Lu Zuofu became the director of the Gorge Defense Bureau in 1927. Therefore, it is also a patriotic education base.

The total area is 3,300 square meters. You can feel the scale of the entire site from the entrance. The five words "Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall" inscribed by the famous calligrapher Qin Xiaokan show vigor on the simple stone carvings. Strong character.

The buildings are surrounded by lush trees, lush flowers and plants, and the brick-and-timber courtyard walls create a unique courtyard feel. The wall also records deeds related to Mr. Lu Zuofu and the development of Beibei. The street view model of Beibei in the 1940s vividly shows the development of Beibei at that time, which is in sharp contrast with Beibei today.

Walking through the path, we arrived in front of the Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall. There are usually some elderly people who come here to relax and exercise and practice Tai Chi in the open space. It is a very quiet and elegant environment. Outside the building is the beautiful Jialing River. Sitting on a bamboo chair, blowing the river breeze and admiring the river view is a unique charm.

As a national key cultural relics protection unit, the Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall embodies Mr. Lu Zuofu’s patriotism in establishing education, founding industries, promoting rural construction experiments, and fighting for the country.

The interior of Mr. Lu Zuofu’s office has also been restored, telling us the great deeds of Mr. Lu Zuofu through some objects, calligraphy and paintings.

In order to attract more young people to come here to learn from Mr. Lu Zuofu’s spirit, a Fusheng cultural and creative space has also been built here, including Fushengxu Cafe and Jianshan Book Club. Because Lu Zuofu Memorial Hall is next to Chongqing Southwest University, many college students usually come here to read, drink tea, and carry out some extracurricular activities.

Today, Beibei District is one of the most low-key urban areas in the main city of Chongqing and is known as the "Back Garden of Chongqing". Although the development of Beibei District is not superior to the other eight main urban areas in Chongqing, Beibei people Life is the most leisurely and enjoyable.