The complex in the Courtyard of the Happy Way, founded in 1882 and rebuilt in 1902, is located in the northwest of Lijiazhuang Village to the eastern gate of the old Wei County and on the south bank of Yu River, covering an area of more than 130,000 square meters. With a history of more than 130 years, the complex consists of church, school and hospital set up by North Presbyterian Church in Wei County. The former Guangwen University was often referred to as the “Harvard in China” because of its imitation of Harvard University in teaching materials and academic system. The establishment and development of the hospital in the Courtyard of the Happy Way promoted the spread of Western medicine, science and technology, and education in China, and played an important role in promoting the cultural exchanges between China and the West. “Civilizations are enriched by exchanges and mutual learning”. The Courtyard of the Happy Way has played a role of bridge and link for the development and mutual learning of Eastern and Western civilization.
During World War II, Japan launched the Pacific War. In retaliation for the United States’ restrictions on the movement of Japanese-Americans in America, Japan secretly set up a foreign expatriate camp in the Courtyard of the Happy Way in March 1942, detaining more than 2000 European and American expatriates (500 being released later in exchange for prisoners of war), among which 327 were children. The Japanese army strictly guarded the Western expatriates and forced them to work, and brutally treated the Chinese inside and outside the camp, beating, punishing and even killing them, till the liberation on August 17, 1945. All the buildings in the Courtyard of the Happy Way recorded the murderous atrocities of Japanese militarism. Like other sites of fascist concentration camps all over the world, it is a painful memory in the human history.
The Courtyard of the Happy Way was once one of the active places of revolution in Wei County and was known as the cradle of Weixian Revolution. Many revolutionists carried out revolutionary activities here. The famous East China University was established here, which cultivated a large number of talents for Chinese revolution.
In 2019, the Courtyard of the Happy Way & the former site of the Western Expatriates Concentration Camp has been listed as a key national cultural relic protection unit and a national demonstration base for patriotism education.
Each building in the Courtyard of the Happy Way has become a witness of its history, telling us the story of what happened here over the past one hundred years.
On September 14, Weixian Concentration Camp Museum of Yuedao Academy organized a conference on learning and implementing the theme of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. Convey t...
Case collection work. After the active declaration of all units, the five departments organized experts to conduct strict selection, selected 70 pioneer application cases, and the Number of wisdom ...
In order to further study, promote and implement the spirit of the Party's 20 major, and consciously help to enhance the connotation of rural culture and enable rural revitalization in the new ...
Ledaoyuan Wei County Concentration Camp Museum2022 Annual work summaryAnd commendation conferenceThe old year is like a brocade, and the new one is waiting for the bookThe year changes, the new cha...
The mid-19th century witnessed a violent collision between Eastern and Western civilizations.Modernized in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, Western powers forced China’s locked door open wi...
In the history of human civilization, war is the most violent means of resolving disputes, with humanity distorted and discarded, the dark side of human nature released for the sake of the ulti...
The 1930s was a turbulent time worldwide. In the East, the Japanese imperialists launched a war of aggression against China in 1931 and quickly occupied northeast China. In Europe, Germany atta...
At 9:30 am on June 30th, the “Liberation, the Very Perfection of Goodness: Special Exhibition Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China”, was grandly ope...
Ways and charges
Staff-guided tours are available to group visitors. Individual visitors can choose to use the audio guide.
1.Staff-guided tour (Reservation must be made by phone in advance. Only one appointment can be made in the morning and one in the afternoon)
Introduction of permanent exhibitions is available for staff-guided tours, which lasts for about one hour and is free of charge.
2.Audio Guide
Audio guide mainly introduces the permanent exhibitions. Visitors can rent free of charge with valid personal ID cards.