Memorial Site of the First Column of the New Fourth Army

Memorial Site of the First Column of the New Fourth Army

The Memorial Site of the First Column of the New Fourth Army is located in Xiangyang Village, Taihua Town, Yixing City. In January 1985, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Yixing County, but this designation was revoked in November 1996. In March 2003, it was re-designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Yixing City.

The buildings of the Memorial Site of the First Column of the New Fourth Army were originally the private residence of Tang Linqing, a wealthy local resident in the Taihua area during the Republican era. From October 1943 to October 1945, Xiangyang Village served as a temporary base for the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division of the New Fourth Army (later renamed the 1st Column of the Su-Jia-Ju Military Region). The headquarters was stationed at the home of Tang Zhipan. Its secretariat, general staff, supply department, garment factory, and gun repair workshop were all located in nearby civilian houses. In 1944, two expanded meetings of the Su-Jia-Ju District Committee of the Chinese Communist Party were held here, and the Su-Jia-Ju Public School also conducted classes on this site.

The main structure faces west and is backed by Zhenqian Mountain (commonly known as Yangshan Boundary). It consists of two rows of buildings with a total of nine bays facing the front, spanning a total width of 31.30 meters and a depth of 19.85 meters. Every three bays are divided into separate courtyards by high walls. Currently, the middle three bays have been demolished and modified, and the two rows of structures on the southern side are also in a state of disrepair. To the north of the main building lies a side wing with six bays, facing south and spanning 17.83 meters in width and 8.30 meters in depth. The easternmost bay functions as a passageway, the central three bays serve as the main hall, and the western two bays house the kitchen and bathroom. Further to the west are three additional bays of building, also facing south, measuring 11.50 meters in width and 10.70 meters in depth.

Taihua Town: Yixing is situated on the shores of Taihu Lake, at the center of the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou triangle, boasting exceptionally rich tourism resources. It is well known for its defining features as the "Ancient Capital of Ceramics, World of Caves, Oasis of Tea, and Sea of Bamboo," attracting 2.5 million domestic and international visitors annually, including over 30,000 foreign tourists. In 1982, it was designated by the State Council as one of the first national-level scenic spots in the Taihu Lake region — the Yangxian Scenic Area.

In 1990, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government recognized Yixing as “China’s renowned Capital of Ceramics and a tourist city within the Taihu Lake Scenic Area.” In 2000, it was awarded the title of “... More detailed information about Taihua Town++”