Former Site of the Niutang Meeting

Former Site of the Niutang Meeting

The Former Site of the Niutang Meeting is a classic red tourism attraction.

In early February 1945, the Zhejiang Provincial Security Command ordered the Second Battalion of the Fourth Regiment of the Zhejiang Security Forces stationed in Xianju to march toward Yueqing to launch the first “mopping-up” operation against the anti-Japanese guerrilla base area since the armed resistance began. They also plotted to eliminate the so-called “captured” Fourth Company of the Yueqing County National Corps Garrison (referred to as the Fourth Guard Company). The Second Battalion of the Fourth Regiment of the Zhejiang Security Forces gathered two self-defense companies from Yongjia County, the Yueqing County Self-Defense Battalion, the Second Guard Company, and one company from the Wentai Escort Battalion at Furong Town, totaling about 1,000 troops. They planned to attack the guerrilla strongholds in Zeji, Nanchong, and Zhangzhuang on the early morning of the 26th along five routes. Upon learning of the intelligence, the Yueqing County Committee swiftly moved the guerrilla forces to Niutang Village in Sidu Township, outside the encirclement of the Kuomintang diehards, on the night of February 22. The next day, the Yueqing County Committee held an emergency meeting in Niutang. After analyzing the situation and discussing countermeasures, they ultimately decided to take advantage of the imminent attack by the diehards to instigate and lead the Fourth Guard Company to launch an anti-Japanese armed uprising. At the same time, they planned to seize the weapons of the Yueqing County Self-Defense Battalion of the Kuomintang and launch a lightning counterstrike. The meeting also decided that Ye Lingyin would invite the leaders of the Fourth Guard Company, Chen Ji and Wang Minggao, to Heqi Village near Hongqiao Town to discuss the uprising.

The Former Site of the Niutang Meeting is located in Niutang Natural Village, a mountainous area north of Mei’ao Village, Sidu Township, Yueqing City. The original site was burned down in 1945 and was later restored after the liberation. Due to lack of maintenance, the buildings have now severely collapsed.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China