7Days Inn Nanchang Bayi Square

There’s plenty to do around the square, but the square itself felt pretty empty when I went by. I also found the pillar kind of ugly, too jagged and brutalist to make the space feel welcoming as a city square.

Getting there is fairly easy by metro, with a station right at one corner, though finding a pedestrian crossing can be difficult, so the metro is usually the better way to arrive. Bayi Square is Nanchang’s most iconic tourist site. “Bayi” means “August 1st,” the day the PLA was founded. Nanchang matters in modern Chinese and CCP history: the Bayi Revolution, led by Zhou Enlai and He Long, marked what historians and CCP researchers describe as the start of armed confrontation between the CCP and KMT. There’s a monument in the square, with reliefs on all four sides of its base depicting several important revolutions in Chinese history. They suggest that history keeps rolling on.

The waitress was so polite and attentive, checking in to see if I needed anything and offering tips on how to cook the food. When I left, they even walked me to the elevator. This was much better service than at the other branch I tried in Shenzhen. It was the best hot pot service I’ve had.

Bayi Square in Nanchang is a must-see when you’re in China.