The Red Detachment of Women Memorial Park was developed in 1998 to commemorate the real female Communist military unit that was formed in Qionghai in 1931 and inspired one of the most enduring cultural artefacts of the Mao era. The park contains revolutionary sculptures, a museum covering the unit's history, coconut groves, and periodic live performances of scenes from the ballet. It was designated a National Classic Red Tourism Attraction in 2005 and draws substantial numbers of mainland Chinese visitors, particularly organised tour groups.
The historical record behind the spectacle is genuinely interesting. The original Red Detachment of Women fought in Qionghai and the surrounding area from 1931, engaged in guerrilla operations against the Nationalist government. The unit was later disbanded and many of its members killed or captured. The 1961 film directed by Xie Jin that dramatised their story was a landmark of Chinese cinema, and the 1964 ballet that followed became one of the eight "model operas" endorsed during the Cultural Revolution — meaning it was among the only artistic works performed publicly in China for years. Richard Nixon and Zhou Enlai watched it together in February 1972 at the Great Hall of the People. Allow 90 minutes for the museum and grounds.