Wangcunkou Revolutionary Memorial Architecture Complex

Wangcunkou Revolutionary Memorial Architecture Complex

The Wangcunkou Revolutionary Memorial Architecture Complex is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Suichang Wangcunkou Red Army Revolutionary Memorial Site is located in Wangcunkou Town, in the southwestern part of Suichang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. It lies at the eastern foot of Jiulong Mountain in the Xianxia Ridge mountain range, surrounded by green hills and clear waters. The town got its name from being initially inhabited by the Wang family and situated at the confluence of a stream and a river.

On December 17, 1934, the Hong Jiayun unit of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army Anti-Japanese Vanguard first attacked Wangcunkou Town, punishing some local tyrants and evil gentry. On January 2, 1935, the Hong Jiayun unit attacked the town again, killing more than 10 enemies, capturing over 40, and seizing more than 50 rifles along with a large amount of ammunition and military supplies. The two attacks on Wangcunkou by the Hong Jiayun unit effectively publicized the Communist Party and the Red Army, inspiring the people's courage and confidence to rise up for revolution and liberation, and laid the foundation for the Vanguard Division’s advance into Zhejiang to carry out guerrilla warfare.

In late July 1935, the headquarters of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army Vanguard Division moved into Wangcunkou Town, establishing a leadership center for building a revolutionary base here. Xiang Ying, Liu Ying, and the divisional headquarters staff stayed in the home of the Cheng family, a landlord who had fled with their entire household, while the Wangcunkou Tianhou Palace became a main activity site for the Red Army.

The Vanguard Division’s establishment of a revolutionary base in southwestern Zhejiang was equivalent to constructing a revolutionary stronghold in the backyard of the Kuomintang ruling clique. In response, the Zhejiang authorities of the Kuomintang set up the “Southern Zhejiang Bandit Suppression Command” in Suichang, deploying the majority of Zhejiang Security forces to the southwestern parts of Suichang and Songyang, as well as the northwest regions of Yunhe and Longquan, to “suppress” the Vanguard Division.

To safeguard the construction of the guerrilla base, draw Kuomintang forces away from the central area, and crush the suppression plans of the Zhejiang Kuomintang authorities, on July 25, the Vanguard Division’s Political Committee held a meeting at Caixiang Temple, deciding to take the initiative by launching the August 1st Action — a competition for seizing weapons and expanding the Red Army — to further advance the revolutionary momentum and broaden the influence of the Red Army. On July 29, the Vanguard Division held an August 1st oath-taking assembly at Tianhou Palace, where Liu Ying delivered a mobilization speech and Xiang Ying outlined the military operations. After the meeting, the Vanguard Division attacked 19 towns and cities of various sizes in Quzhou, Longyou, and other areas, seizing more than 100 rifles, 2 light machine guns, and recruiting over 400 new Red Army soldiers, greatly advancing both the construction of the guerrilla base and the revolutionary movement. In late August, to unify the leadership of township and village-level red governments and carry out land revolution movements such as targeting local tyrants, inspecting land, and distributing young crops, the Vanguard Division’s Political Committee held another meeting at Caixiang Temple, deciding to establish the Wangcunkou Soviet Government and discussing personnel arrangements for the government. On August 26, the Red Army Vanguard Division held a mass assembly at Hongji Bridge in Wangcunkou. The political commissar of the Second Column, Hong Jiayun, presided over the assembly and announced the establishment of the Wangcunkou Soviet Government. After the assembly, the members of the newly formed Soviet Government, amidst the crowd’s cheers, moved into Caixiang Temple to begin their work.

The Wangcunkou Red Army Revolutionary Memorial Site preserves revolutionary relics such as the former site of the Vanguard Division’s August 1st Oath-Taking Assembly (Tianhou Palace), the offices of the Vanguard Division’s main leaders, the meeting place of the Vanguard Division’s Political Committee, the former site of the Wangcunkou Soviet Government (Caixiang Temple), the former site of the Vanguard Division’s headquarters (Cheng Family Ancient Residence), the site of the Wangcunkou Soviet Government inaugural assembly, the site of the Vanguard Division’s mass assembly and Xiang Ying’s speech (Hongji Bridge), as well as battlefield relics of the Anti-Japanese Vanguard and Vanguard Division (Baihejian). At the same time, General Xiang Ying spent one of the most difficult periods of his life during the three-year guerrilla war in southwestern Zhejiang and southern Zhejiang, including Suichang, and bid farewell to many comrades-in-arms, such as Huang Fuwu and Hong Jiayun, in Wangcunkou. On May 15, 1984, in accordance with Xiang Ying’s last wishes, comrades from the Office of the Central Military Commission and the general’s relatives scattered part of his ashes on the moonlit hillside on the western bank of the WuXi River in western Wangcunkou Town, to rest eternally alongside his comrades who sacrificed on this hallowed ground. On April 5, 1985, the Xiang Ying Mausoleum was completed.

The Wangcunkou Red Army Revolutionary Memorial Site was designated as a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit in August 1997 and recognized as a Zhejiang Provincial Patriotic Education Base by the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department in June 2001.

Source: Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee Party History and Literature Research Office

Wangcunkou Town: Located southwest of Suichang County, at the foot of the Jiulong Mountain Nature Reserve, Wangcunkou Town borders Ankou Township and Shilian Town to the east, Longyang Township to the south, Caiyuan Township to the west, and Jiaotan Township to the north. The town government is located in Qiaodong Village, 50 kilometers from the county seat. In 1992, following district dissolution, town expansion, and township mergers, Guanchuan and Duizheng Townships were incorporated into Wangcunkou Town, covering a total area of 165 square kilometers, including 481 hectares of arable land and 15,425 hectares of forest. In 2004, the total industrial and agricultural output value reached 94.4 million yuan. The economy is primarily based on forestry. The town administers 24 administrative villages and several natural villages... More detailed information about Wangcunkou Town++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units