On the morning of July 30, employees of Shanghai Roots & Shoots visited the site of the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China to take part in a unique scenario-based Party lesson titled "A Beacon Illuminating the Journey." There was no lectern or slideshows. Inside the 1921 Shikumen (stone-gate) buildings, participants took on different roles, searched for clues, and cracked codes, experiencing a slice of revolutionary history over the course of 75 minutes.
Entering Fudeli: From "Visiting" to "Immersing"
No. 625 Fudeli bears witness to the seven "firsts" in Party history created by the Second National Congress. At the start of the activity, all participants drew "time tokens" such as combs, fountain pens, and hammers, and were divided into three experiential groups—"Youth," "Workers and Peasants," and "Women"—instantly transporting them back to 1921, a turbulent and revolutionary era.
Three Scenarios: A Team-Based "Historical Detective Work"
Members of each group entered three different physical puzzle-solving zones, with the ultimate task of finding the codes that would ignite the beacon of revolution using the historical documents and authentic objects provided on site.
The puzzle-solving process was by no means simple—a comb, a letter from home, or a piece of soap could all be the key to unlocking the next stage. Everyone worked together to compare date clues on documents, carefully examined various possible tokens with flashlights, and focused intently on cracking the passwords on each device. When the combination lock opened with a "click," everyone could not help but applaud and cheer. As the story unfolded, they kept solving puzzles and kept reflecting—they felt deeply for the tragic fate of ordinary people in those days and were also moved by the hope that arose amid the darkness.
Youth Group: "Mr. Xue accepted a classmate's invitation to study Marxist works such as Das Kapital. After his classmate was brutally persecuted for leading a student movement, he resolutely took up the revolutionary banner, using his pen as a weapon and devoting himself to translating revolutionary works. Throughout the code-breaking and challenge-solving process, I deeply felt the persistence of intellectuals a century ago in their quest for truth amid darkness. This was not only an immersive game but also a profound inspiration and spiritual baptism for the intellectuals of today—true intellectuals should always integrate their personal ideals into the destiny of the nation and its people."
Workers and Peasants Group: "In just one short hour, we were pulled into that era of sudden and turbulent change, with history calling out to us from between the lines. We discovered a worker's diary—his family was impoverished and he suffered constant oppression at the factory; we found a letter from a close friend, encouraging each other to stay strong; we uncovered a series of passwords, carefully entered them, and the time machine opened once again..."
Women Group: "The eldest sister was sold to work in a cigarette factory as a child to support her family, including her younger sister, on meager wages. Thanks to her older sister's hard work and sacrifice, the younger sister was luckier—she was able to attend a night school for women, where she learned to read and write and encountered teachers and counselors who held new-era ideas. Thus, their life paths began to diverge, ultimately leading to two very different lives. Though they remained as close as ever, sisters who had supported each other since childhood, thea elder sister quickly married after reaching adulthood. Even though her husband treated her poorly, she still believed that a woman should marry as soon as possible, as that was the only way to find protection. However, the younger sister, through her education, came to know a very different group of people who believed that women could participate in anti-imperialist and anti-feudal social activities just as men could, while also fighting for greater social rights for ordinary women—such as access to education and advanced skills training."
Light and Shadow Retrospective: Seven "Firsts," Igniting Hope
During the "Light and Shadow Retrospective" segment, all employees watched a special film together, revisiting the historical significance and contemporary value of the Second National Congress. This was followed by an interactive puzzle and Q&A session—each group collaborated to answer questions based on the film's content and the clues in the exhibition areas. When all the historical answers were correctly pieced together, the beacon devices in each exhibition hall slowly lit up, and everyone cheered and shouted, "We did it!" The collaborative puzzle illuminated a historical answer that spans a century: only by uniting closely and moving forward together can we break through all obstacles and overcome every difficulty.
Voice of Faith: The Party Constitution in Hand, Mission on the Shoulders
After the Workers and Peasants, Women, and Youth groups jointly cracked the final historical code, the melody of The Internationale rang through the hall. In a solemn atmosphere, all participants revisited the core spirit of the first Party Constitution, feeling the faith and commitment of the revolutionary forebears from a century ago. At the end of the session, the time guide systematically explained the historical status and contemporary relevance of the Second National Congress, helping everyone connect the "beacon" from a hundred years ago to their present work and daily lives.
A Party Lesson, A Profound Harvest
This Party lesson contained no elements of "listening to a lecture." Instead, through "code-breaking, film-watching, and collaborating"—a process that engaged both mind and body throughout—it made history tangible and perceptible. When we walked out of the memorial hall, it was already noon, and sunlight fell perfectly on the lintel of Fudeli. The beacon that lit the path to national salvation a century ago still guides us today, deepening our understanding of just how hard-won today's peace truly is. The red glow of Fudeli reflects our original aspiration, and we will carry forward the spirit of our predecessors, fulfill our responsibilities in our respective posts, and let the century-old beacon illuminate the journey ahead.
