Ruins of the Rear Hospital

Rear Hospital Ruins

The Rear Hospital Ruins is a cultural tourism attraction.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Yongle Detachment established a medical unit in Yantan Village, Ou’bei. After the detachment was downsized, the medical unit was disbanded. In the autumn of 1947, as the armed forces continued to expand, the Central County Committee and the Kuocang Detachment reinstated the medical unit. In the autumn of 1948, the medical unit was split into two groups that operated alongside the troops. Both medical units were directly under the leadership of the Central County Committee and the detachment headquarters. They sometimes operated separately and sometimes together, and also provided free medical treatment to local residents. The locals referred to the medical units as the “Rear Hospital” and the medical staff as “miracle doctors who saved lives.” In early 1949, the Rear Hospital moved to the valley behind Houheng Mountain, opposite Dianlingshan Village in Xi’an Town. The village Party branch quickly led Party members and militiamen to erect rows of thatched sheds, which housed 20 makeshift beds made of firewood branches and vines. The area around the sheds was overgrown with tall grass and brush, providing strong concealment. There was also a little-known path behind the mountain that could be used for a safe retreat in case of emergencies. After the Battle of Hongqiao in March 1949, the number of wounded surged and all the beds were occupied. Local residents came in droves to offer comfort and support. Due to the tight blockade imposed by the Kuomintang on the guerrilla base areas, the medical unit had rudimentary equipment and an extreme shortage of medicine. Their entire supply consisted of just two loads of medical gear and instruments, which were hard-won. The medical staff treasured every pill and every inch of gauze. Blood-stained bandages, gauze, and cotton were often washed and reused. Under these difficult conditions, the medical unit treated more than 50 wounded soldiers. Except for one severely injured soldier who could not be saved due to excessive blood loss, most of the others recovered. In May 1949, after the liberation of Yueqing County, the Rear Hospital entered the town along with over 10 wounded soldiers.

The Rear Hospital Ruins is located in Dianlingshan Village, Xi’an Town, Yueqing City. The site covers an area of over 100 square meters. Part of the ruins has been rebuilt into residential houses, and the approximately 20-square-meter open space in front of the ruins was originally the inner courtyard of the Rear Hospital.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC