Former Site of the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Northern Jiangsu

Former Site of the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Northern Jiangsu

The former site of the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Northern Jiangsu is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The quadrangle courtyard of Southeast Middle School is the former site of the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University. The school was originally established in 1920 as the Kěnmù Higher Primary School by Zhang Jian, an industrialist and educator from the late Qing Dynasty, commonly referred to as Kěnmù School. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan and the occupation of Nantong, in order to continue anti-Japanese education, the Tongzhou Normal School (now known as Nantong Normal School) relocated here in August 1938, also known as the "Tongshi Overseas School."

In February 1942, Su Yu led the headquarters of the First Division of the New Fourth Army to settle in Haifu, with the instructional brigade stationed in the quadrangle courtyard. Here, Su Yu led and directed the struggles against “mopping-up” operations and “pacification” campaigns, while establishing, building, consolidating, and developing anti-Japanese democratic bases in enemy-occupied areas.

In May 1942, the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University was established in the quadrangle courtyard. Division Commander Su Yu personally served as the school’s principal, with Liu Jiping as vice principal, Zhang Riqing as educational director, and Xie Yunhui as head of the political department. The school had seven divisions: military, political, staff training, youth student, local armed forces, radio training, and accounting training, along with an affiliated medical cadre training division. The entire school had over 600 faculty and staff members. The Ninth Branch School provided concentrated military, political, and cultural education to students, with guerrilla warfare tactics being a key focus of military training. Many young people from Qihai and students from Kěnmù went on to join the revolutionary cause through this school.

The quadrangle courtyard covers an area of 4,500 square meters, with a total construction area of 2,350 square meters and a total of 74 rooms. In 2013, the provincial cultural relics bureau approved the restoration and preservation of the “Former Site of the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University.” Restoration work began in October 2013. The restored site now houses three main exhibition halls: the “Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University Memorial Hall” (Southeast Flames), the Zhang Jian Kěnmù Education Memorial Hall (Eastern Frontier Enlightenment), and the Southeast Middle School History Museum (East Wind Eternal Vigor), as well as two auxiliary exhibition halls: “Tracing the Footsteps” and “Qidong Military Elite Gallery.” On March 11, 2015, the Ninth Branch School of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University Memorial Hall was officially opened to the public.

Haifu Town: Located in the central part of Qidong City, Haifu Town borders Lusi Port Town to the north and is 23 kilometers south of Huilong Town. It covers an area of 37.4 square kilometers, with 29,522 mu of arable land and a population of 29,465. Provincial Highway S211 runs through the town, which also has rivers such as Haozhi Port River and Touxing Port River, offering convenient transportation. In 1999, Haifu Town was designated as a provincial key central town by the Jiangsu Provincial Government. In 2005, its GDP reached 345 million yuan, fiscal revenue totaled 14.91 million yuan, and the per capita income of farmers was 5,120 yuan.

Haifu — “Originally part of Lusi Salt Field, it became submerged into the sea three hundred years ago…” More details about Haifu Town ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units