Zhiqing Museum

Hidden within Shanghai lies the Zhiqing Museum. It’s a time capsule dedicated to the “sent-down youth,” the Zhiqing. The Zhiqing Museum tells their story. These young people were relocated from cities to rural areas during the Cultural Revolution. This museum isn’t just about dusty artifacts. It’s about the human experience. The Zhiqing Museum explores the movement’s complexities. It highlights both the idealistic beginnings and the harsh realities. The museum chronicles the movement from its inception. A 1953 People’s Daily editorial titled “Organizing Senior High School Graduates to Participate in Agricultural Production” foreshadowed the movement. Mao Zedong’s 1968 call in the same newspaper solidified it. The museum uses propaganda materials, photos, and personal items. These paint a picture of life during this period. The Zhiqing worked tirelessly for “work points,” barely earning enough to survive. One exhibit displays Fan Jianchuan’s work point record book. He earned a mere tenth of a yuan per day. The museum doesn’t shy away from darker aspects. It recounts stories of hardship. There are even accounts of unnatural deaths, accidents, suicides, and persecution. A chilling installation, “17.76 Million,” represents the number of displaced youth. Broken mirrors and rusty tools symbolize shattered dreams and arduous labor. The Zhiqing Museum also acknowledges the differing perspectives on this period. It shares quotes from former Zhiqing. Some express nostalgia, while others reveal deep trauma. The museum concludes with a poignant message. “Either wasted or without regret, it was our youth after all.” The Zhiqing Museum is more than a museum. It’s a testament to a generation’s experience during a turbulent era.