Site of the Breakthrough in the Battle to Liberate Tianjin

Site of the Breakthrough in the Battle to Liberate Tianjin

The Site of the Breakthrough in the Battle to Liberate Tianjin is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

In 2002, the Tianjin Municipal Government erected the Monument to the Breakthrough in the Liberation of Tianjin to commemorate the heroic deeds of the People's Liberation Army soldiers. The monument, built along the Fuxing River, consists of two structures standing side by side. The base of the monument on the west side is inscribed with the words “Monument to the Breakthrough in the Liberation of Tianjin,” while an irregularly shaped stone on the monument on the east side is engraved with “January 14, 1949.” On the back, the “Inscription of the Monument to the Breakthrough in the Liberation of Tianjin” is solemnly carved to honor the heroic feats of the revolutionary martyrs. In 2009, it was designated as a Tianjin Patriotic Education Base by the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.

On January 14, 1949, the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a decisive assault on the Nationalist defenses in Tianjin with overwhelming force. The area around Jian Shan in the southeastern part of Tianjin was a heavily fortified defensive line constructed by the Nationalist defenders as part of their “Fortress Tianjin” strategy. It featured a wide moat, dense barbed wire, wooden stakes, minefields, high walls, and crisscrossing bunkers.

On that day, the 46th Army of the Northeast Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a fierce attack on both the eastern and western sides of the moat south of Jian Shan. At 13:20, soldiers from the 2nd Company of the Assault Battalion of the 409th Regiment of the 137th Division of the 46th Army bravely and swiftly crossed the moat, breached three layers of barbed wire, and eliminated the enemies in the bunkers using grenades and other explosives. At 13:[incomplete time], they were the first to climb onto the city wall from the section east of the moat and quickly secured a favorable position. They then repelled more than ten enemy counterattacks in succession, continuing the fight until only around 20 soldiers remained in the company. After more than ten hours of bloody battle by the entire 46th Army, by 04:00 on the 15th, they had captured Qian Jian Shan and Hou Jian Shan, breached the Nationalist defenses, and opened up the southern breakthrough point for the attack on the urban area. During this battle, 2,424 soldiers of the 46th Army were wounded and 419 sacrificed their lives, their blood staining the city walls and riverbanks.

Address of the Site of the Breakthrough in the Battle to Liberate Tianjin: Intersection of Wuhao Dike Road and Yujiang Avenue, Hexi District. Open all day, free admission. Contact number: 284568050. The Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a decisive assault on the Nationalist defenses in Tianjin with overwhelming force. The area around Jian Shan in the southeastern part of Tianjin was a heavily fortified defensive line constructed by the Nationalist defenders as part of their “Fortress Tianjin” strategy. It featured a wide moat, dense barbed wire, wooden stakes, minefields, high walls, and crisscrossing bunkers.

On that day, the 46th Army of the Northeast Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a fierce attack on both the eastern and western sides of the moat south of Jian Shan. At 13:20, soldiers from the 2nd Company of the Assault Battalion of the 409th Regiment of the 137th Division of the 46th Army bravely and swiftly crossed the moat, breached three layers of barbed wire, and eliminated the enemies in the bunkers using grenades and other explosives. At 13:[incomplete time], they were the first to climb onto the city wall from the section east of the moat and quickly secured a favorable position. They then repelled more than ten enemy counterattacks in succession, continuing the fight until only around 20 soldiers remained in the company. After more than ten hours of bloody battle by the entire 46th Army, by 04:00 on the 15th, they had captured Qian Jian Shan and Hou Jian Shan, breached the Nationalist defenses, and opened up the southern breakthrough point for the attack on the urban area. During this battle, 2,424 soldiers of the 46th Army were wounded and 419 sacrificed their lives, their blood staining the city walls and riverbanks.

Address of the Site of the Breakthrough in the Battle to Liberate Tianjin: Intersection of Wuhao Dike Road and Yujiang Avenue, Hexi District. Open all day, free admission. Contact number: 28456805.