Former Site of the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army in Shu

Former Site of the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army in Shu

The former site of the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army in Shu is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Anhui Province.

The former site of the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army in Shu is located at Wei Family Grand House, Donggang Village, Gaofeng Township, Shucheng County.

In March 1938, the 28th Red Army, which had been active in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui region, and the guerrilla forces from the Tongbai Mountain area of Henan, were reorganized into the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army. Under the leadership of Commander Gao Jingting, Political Director Xiao Wangdong (later replaced by Dai Qiying), and Chief of Staff Lin Weixian, the detachment was stationed in the eastern and western valleys of Donggang and Xigang in Shucheng County. They first stayed at Wei Family Grand House in Donggang Valley, then moved to Hua Family Old House and Dunfu Hermitage in Xigang Valley. During their time in Shu, the Fourth Detachment actively led the anti-Japanese resistance in central and eastern Anhui. They engaged in over 90 battles, killing or wounding more than 2,300 enemy troops, significantly weakening the morale of Japanese puppet forces and opening up a new phase of resistance behind enemy lines in the region. At the same time, the detachment worked to mobilize and organize the local population, helped establish grassroots Party organizations, formed local anti-Japanese militias, and grew its ranks from over 3,100 to more than 10,000 soldiers. Wei Family Grand House was originally built in the late Qing Dynasty, featuring over 10 rooms arranged along an east-west axis. The structure follows a traditional layout with five load-bearing pillars, blue brick walls, small tiles, and a two-story design. It is surrounded by courtyards at the front and back, separated from other farmhouses by walls. From March 1938 to June 1939, the Fourth Detachment of the New Fourth Army was stationed here. The middle three rooms served as the living quarters for Gao Jingting and Dai Qiying, the next three on the right were used by Liu Shunyuan and others, and the two rooms further to the right housed the Propaganda and Organization Departments. The left side of the house was used by the Guard Company, General Affairs Department, and Guard Platoon. In 1991, members of the Wei family donated seven of the house’s rooms to the state.

Donggang Village: A national model for rural development and ecological construction, Donggang Village in Gaofeng Township is located in the southwestern part of Shucheng County, approximately 3.5 kilometers from Wanfo Lake and about 60 kilometers from downtown Shucheng. Situated in a hilly and mountainous area, the village consists of 24 villager groups, with 478 households and a population of 1,866. The village Party branch includes two Party branches and four Party groups, with 56 Party members. The village has 1,129 acres of arable land and 4,936 acres of mountainous land. Major crops include rice, wheat, corn, and rapeseed, while key economic crops are chestnuts, bamboo, and oil tea. The labor economy plays a dominant role, with the per capita income reaching 4... For more details about Donggang Village++