Former Site of the Founding of the 13th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army

Former Site of the Founding of the 13th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army

The Former Site of the Founding of the 13th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army is a classic red tourism attraction.

After the establishment of the Southwest Zhejiang Guerrilla Command of the Red Army, in order to unite with the armed forces of western Zhejiang for the “Liberation of Zhejiang,” and in accordance with instructions from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the resolution of the Yongjia County Central Committee of the CPC, on May 3, 1930, discussions were held at the Sifen Ancestral Hall in Wushuniu Village, Yongjia County, regarding the establishment of the headquarters of the 13th Red Army. It was decided to first gather the Red Army guerrilla forces from various counties at Fenglin for training. On May 9, they attacked Fenglin. After capturing Fenglin, Red Army soldiers held a meeting at Mianyuan Garden in Fenglin Town, where it was announced that the Red Army guerrilla forces of southwestern Zhejiang would be unified as the 13th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (abbreviated as the 13th Red Army), officially establishing the army’s headquarters. The army commander was Hu Gongmian, the political commissar was Jin Guanzhen, and the director of the political department was Chen Wenjie. The headquarters was located in Wushuniu Village, Yongjia County. Subsequently, the headquarters gradually established departments including the staff office, training office, economic office, secretariat, direct-guard security team, and training team. At the same time, over thirty Red Army guerrilla units from the Xinanxi region were organized into the 1st Regiment of the 13th Red Army, with Lei Gaosheng as regimental commander and Jin Guoxiang as political commissar, comprising three battalions. Later, some guerrilla units from counties such as Ruian, Huangyan, Xianju, Qingtian, and Jinyun were also incorporated into the 1st Regiment, bringing its total strength to over 3,000 men, making it the main force of the 13th Red Army. Soon after, the 3rd Regiment was established in Fangshankou, Yongkang, and the 2nd Regiment was formed in Wugen, Wenling.

The Former Site of the Founding of the 13th Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army is located at Mianyuan Garden in Fenglin Town, Yongjia County. In front of the venue of the founding assembly—Mianyuan Garden—there is a square measuring 38 meters in length and 32 meters in width. To the east of the square stands Huirisi Temple, which served as the lodging site for Red Army soldiers at the time.

Source: History Research Office of the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee