Wu Balao Island

Wu Balao Island

Sanhe Village According to historical records, around the third year of the Republic of China (1914), there was a shop named "Sanhe Inn" here. By the fourth to fifth year of the Republic of China (1915–1916), it had developed into a village, and the village name originated from the "Sanhe Inn."

Wu Balao Island is located 100 meters upstream from Sanhe Village. It consists of three isolated sandbars, with the second island being the largest and oval-shaped, the first island shaped like a figure-eight, and the third island being the smallest and round. During low water periods, the three small islands merge into one, covering a total area of 1.62 square kilometers. The island was formed during the Qing Dynasty, when the family of Wu Xianglian from Sanhe Village lived there. The family of nine operated a tavern on the island and cultivated the land. Since Wu Xianglian was the eighth child in his family, the island was named Wu Balao Island. In 1969, it was the main battlefield of the Sino-Soviet territorial dispute, leaving behind many heroic and moving stories. It was designated by the State Council and the Central Military Commission as the "Sanhe Battle Village, a Strong Fortress, Heroic People, and a Village of Battle."

The surging Heilongjiang River flows mightily and twists through 480 kilometers from its source at Luoguhe before reaching Sanhe Village, the fifth natural settlement within Huma County.

The beautiful Sanhe Village is nestled between mountains and water. It is surrounded by hills to the north, west, and south, while the Heilongjiang River flows gently from north to south just east of the village, only about 10 meters away at its closest point. From a distance, the village is tucked among lush trees and fields. The sky overhead is deep blue, the clouds at the horizon are pure white, the breeze is gentle, and the moist air carries the rich scent of the Heilongjiang River, refreshing the soul. Here, everything is so simple and natural, and the tranquil beauty reaches its peak, truly breathtaking.

Sanhe Village currently has 78 households. According to historical records, Sanhe Village is located on the banks of the Heilongjiang River southwest of Oupu Township. Around the third year of the Republic of China (1914), there was a shop named "Sanhe Inn" here. By the fourth to fifth year of the Republic of China (1915–1916), it had developed into a village, and its name originates from the "Sanhe Inn." In the early days, the people of Sanhe Village lived off farming, fishing, and hunting. They fished and farmed in spring and summer, and hunted during the long winter. Today, the people of Sanhe Village mainly engage in agriculture, planting and harvesting crops such as soybeans and wheat, working from sunrise to sunset.

Sanhe Village is indeed somewhat famous, not only for its simplicity, natural beauty, and tranquility, but also because it neighbors Wu Balao Island. Wu Balao Island is also quite well-known, not only for its delicate, picturesque, and enticing charm, but also because it was the site of the world-shaking Sino-Soviet military conflict—the Wu Balao Island Incident—during the tense Sino-Soviet relations of the mid-20th century.

Wu Balao Island is located 100 meters upstream from Sanhe Village in Oupu Township, on the Chinese side of the main channel of the Heilongjiang River, and has always been Chinese territory. It consists of three isolated sandbars, with the second island being the largest and oval-shaped, the first island slightly smaller and figure-eight shaped, and the third island being the smallest and round. During low water periods, the three small islands merge into one, covering a total area of 1.62 square kilometers. During high water periods, the first and third islands are submerged, leaving only the second island standing alone in the river. The island was formed in the early Qing Dynasty, when the family of Wu Xianglian from Sanhe Village lived there. The family of five operated a tavern and cultivated the land. Since Wu Xianglian was the eighth child in his family, the island was named Wu Balao Island. In 1931, another villager, Luan Yingzhou, also moved to the island to farm together with Wu Xianglian. In 1934, Wu Xianglian passed away and was buried on the island. In 1936, to resist Soviet influence, the Japanese invaders, through their police, drove Wu Xianglian’s nephew Wu Dingyi and Luan Yingzhou, along with other farmers, off the island and relocated them to Sanhe Village, allowing them to work on the island but not reside there. After the liberation in 1945, residents of Sanhe Village continued to go to the island to cut grass, fish, and gather timber. In winter, the usual route for crossing the river remained outside the island. In the winter of 1965, the Soviet army placed a row of log barriers outside the island, covered with snow, to block our vehicles.

On July 29, 1967, our side organized 14 people to go to the island for production. On July 30, the Soviet side sent over 30 soldiers to interfere. The next day, the number of Soviet soldiers increased to over 70, and they dispatched more than 10 military vessels including gunboats, landing craft, patrol boats, and self-propelled barges. A Soviet lieutenant colonel and major general personally directed operations from a helicopter, creating a show of force and militarily threatening our production workers. Our personnel engaged them in reasoned argument. The Soviet forces then used their numerical advantage to surround our workers, restricting their activities. No matter what methods or force the Soviet side used, our side persisted in going to the island every day to work, and the Soviet siege escalated daily: confiscating our tools, blocking our access with wooden poles, and even pushing our workers into the river… Later, the Soviets resorted to even more brutal tactics, deploying trained special forces armed with belts, wooden sticks, slingshots, and specially made meteor hammers to violently attack our workers, injuring many. Our side, driven beyond endurance, fought back in self-defense.

In 1968, the Soviet side twice sent armed soldiers to land on Wu Balao Island with military boats. Our unarmed personnel were forced to fight and held their ground until the Soviets withdrew. That year, 255 acres of land were reclaimed on the island, a house was built, and 120,000 pounds of fodder grass were harvested. From March to May 11, 1969, the Soviet side deployed aircraft and gunboats to repeatedly violate the airspace and waters around Wu Balao Island, conducting reconnaissance and provocations, setting up loudspeakers to broadcast reactionary propaganda, and launching vicious attacks against the Chinese government. On the morning of May 15, 1969, four Chinese People's Liberation Army border guards in brand-new green uniforms marched confidently onto Wu Balao Island to carry out routine border patrols. Suddenly, shots were fired from a hidden Soviet position across the river. At first, the Soviets only shot into the air, but seeing that our border guards continued their normal patrol, they opened fire with machine guns from multiple directions at Kalilovka Outpost and Kalilovka Downstream, creating crossfire that raked the open area where our guards had to pass. The dense bullets flew lower and lower, completely blocking our path. Around 2 p.m., the four guards spread out in a line and quickly dashed across the bullet-swept open area, safely reaching our concealed post on the island. Soon after, they resumed their patrol. The deputy station commander led the way, followed by Ren Jiulin, a newly enlisted soldier from Liaoning born in 1949 who had been in the army for less than three months. Before setting off, he shook hands and said goodbye to the local militia, saying, “Let’s welcome victory once again.”

The Soviet machine guns opened fire wildly again. The patrol team was pinned down under the threat of bullets. Minutes later, our troops and civilians on the shore saw the patrol team crawling forward amid the intense gunfire. Soon, the first member crossed the second line of fire and reached a concealed spot, but as the second member rose and took a few steps, he stumbled and fell, never to move again—that was Comrade Ren Jiulin. He had been shot in the left chest, cried out “Squad leader!” and heroically sacrificed himself at 3:38 p.m. that day. Even after killing our border guard, the Soviets refused to stop. Their machine guns continued to fire at all access points to the island, and military helicopters hovered overhead for reconnaissance. Later, the Huma County Revolutionary Committee (now the Huma County People’s Government) built a martyrs’ cemetery for the young soldier Ren Jiulin, who heroically died defending our territory on Wu Balao Island. The cemetery is located in the evergreen pine forest along the Shibaizhan Highway. The tombstone bears the inscription: “Eternal Glory to Martyr Ren Jiulin, Who Heroically Sacrificed Himself in the Struggle Against Revisionism.” Passersby can’t help but look up at the cemetery and remember the hero’s gallant figure amidst the gunfire. Ren Jiulin, who gave his life for the country, will live forever in the hearts of the people. According to statistics, from May 12 to September 6, 1969, the Soviets fired 2,160 bursts and 1,363 single shots, totaling 8,191 bullets, with the deepest penetration reaching over 1,000 meters. In the Sino-Soviet military conflict on Wu Balao Island, our side exercised great restraint and patience, preventing further escalation of the conflict and deterioration of relations. But our patience has limits. Our sovereignty and dignity are sacred and inviolable. We are willing to give everything for our motherland.

Wu Balao Island is an ordinary island, but also a heroic one. It is stained with the blood of our martyrs and nourished by the sweat of our fellow countrymen. It will always belong to China and will forever rest in the embrace of the motherland.

In 1971, Neville Maxwell, a senior correspondent for the British newspaper The Times and a renowned international affairs commentator, personally visited the Wu Balao Island area to conduct interviews. He later reported objectively and fairly to the international community on the Sino-Soviet border conflict in the region. Later, a Maxwell Pavilion was built on the mountain where our border outpost is located as a memorial. The pavilion bears the following inscription: “Maxwell was a British journalist. During the 1969 Sino-Soviet dispute over Wu Balao Island, he personally came to our outpost as a lover of peace to conduct on-site investigations. He then publicly and fairly reported in international public opinion that Wu Balao Island belongs to China, upholding justice for our side. To commemorate him, this pavilion was built.”

As the years pass, the now-friendly China and Russia have confirmed through border demarcation that Wu Balao Island is Chinese territory. The delicate, beautiful, and enticing Wu Balao Island now thrives with vitality, presenting a peaceful and serene scene. Over ten farming households grow wheat and soybeans on the island, cultivating over 600 acres of land.

The border observation post on the mountain north of Sanhe Village is the famous Northern First Outpost and the best vantage point to view Wu Balao Island and Sanhe Village. Climbing to the top of the 84-meter-high mountain, you’ll find Wu Balao Island right below: it rests peacefully like a sleeping baby, its lush greenery like a bride on her wedding day. The island’s crops are nearly ripe, and hope is about to be reaped. The vast Heilongjiang River surges before your eyes, flowing toward the sea. Wild geese soar freely above the river, singing for peace. Through high-powered binoculars, you can see the pastoral life of Russian villagers across the river, and in the evening, you can watch the cooking smoke rising from Sanhe Village. Everything is so natural, so beautiful.

When visiting Sanhe Village, tourists can climb to the mountaintop outpost to view Wu Balao Island and admire the village, take boat tours on the river with yachts, motorboats, or sampans, pay respects at the tomb of martyr Yin Zhengqi—who was the first secretary of the Huma County Committee of the Communist Party of China and heroically sacrificed himself at the age of 27 fighting bandits organized by the Kuomintang at Sanhe Station on November 7, 1945—or visit the surrounding countryside to enjoy the scenery of rolling wheat fields and fragrant bean blossoms. Tourists can also dine at riverside restaurants to savor fresh river fish. When water levels are right, the 300-meter riverside beach and excellent fishing facilities will make your trip unforgettable.

To visit Sanhe Village and tour Wu Balao Island, you can take a train to Tahe Station, transfer to a bus to the beautiful and mystical Baiyinna Ewenki Ethnic Township, and then take another bus for 20 kilometers to reach your destination. This 20-kilometer mountain road is called the “Sanhe Road,” which will lead you into the solemn and sacred Greater Khingan Mountains primeval forest. As you drive through the mountains, every sight is like a painting. Towering birch trees, green larches, sky-scraping poplars, and straight larches are all within reach. The pure blue sky, snow-white clouds, interlocking peaks, and emerald-green everything make you feel as if you’re in a painting. If you take a bus from Huma to Baiyinna, the road distance is 113 kilometers, passing through the camphor pine seedling forest of the Jinshan Forest Farm in Huma County, the training grounds of anti-Japanese guerrilla fighters, and the planned Sanjianfang Hydropower Station, which is worth a stop. If you take a boat from Huma to Sanhe Village, the water distance is 155 kilometers, taking you through the most beautiful section of the Heilongjiang River—the Huashan Scenic Area—where you can disembark for a closer look or admire the peninsula from afar. You’ll also pass the strangest section—the 5-kilometer-long Smoke Mountain, which offers a closer and more impressive view from the boat than from the shore. Additionally, you’ll go through the most treacherous section—the Yingmen Lazi Scenic Area, where you can experience the thrill of navigating through dangerous waters and encounter depictions of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, Confucius, and the pointing immortal. With so many sights along the way, why not go?

Source: Huma County Party Committee and County Government