Former Residence of Feng Yuxiang

Former Residence of Feng Yuxiang

The former residence of Feng Yuxiang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a base for patriotic education.

The former residence of Feng Yuxiang is located in Zhuke Village, Xiajia Town, Chaohu City. It was his home during his two visits back to his hometown between 1936 and 1937. The main complex includes five buildings with 22 rooms, among them his 1936 living quarters (a renovated ancestral home he helped fund) plus additional structures such as a council room and guards’ office. Constructed with blue bricks, small tiles, and wooden beams, the site covers an area of 4,690 square meters. Its architectural style reflects typical dwellings of the Jianghuai region. Indoor displays include mourning banners inscribed by Mao Zedong and Zhu De, birthday greetings penned by Zhou Enlai, as well as photos, handwritten documents, personal belongings, and other materials related to Feng Yuxiang’s life and legacy.

Feng Yuxiang (1882–1948), courtesy name Huanyang, was born in Qing County, Hebei Province, but traced his ancestry to Chuxian (now Juchao District of Chaohu City). He was an outstanding patriotic general, democratic fighter, and close ally of the Chinese Communist Party in modern Chinese history. He joined the army at age 12, rising from private to deputy squad leader, sentry commander, company officer, and battalion commander. In 1914, he was appointed commander of the 16th Mixed Brigade. In 1921, he became commander of the 11th Division and was later named Military Governor of Shaanxi. After the 1911 Revolution, he held various positions including brigade and division commander in the Beiyang Army. During the Northern Expedition, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the National Revolutionary Army. In 1924, during the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, he commanded the Third Army and launched the Beijing Coup in October of that year, overthrowing the Zhili warlord government. In May 1926, he pledged his troops’ allegiance to the Kuomintang in a ceremony at Wuyuan. In May 1927, he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Second Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army in Xi’an and advanced into Henan alongside other revolutionary forces. In 1928, he turned against Chiang Kai-shek, leading to the Jiang-Feng War and later the Central Plains War. In May 1933, he allied with the Chinese Communist Party and organized the Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army in Zhangjiakou, serving as its commander-in-chief. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he actively advocated for resistance and held positions such as commander of the People’s Anti-Japanese Allied Army, commander of the Sixth and Third War Zones, and vice chairman of the National Military Commission. After the war, he supported cooperation with the CCP and opposed Chiang Kai-shek’s policies of civil war, dictatorship, and selling out the nation. Known for his frugality, strict military discipline, and hatred of evil, Feng Yuxiang rose from humble beginnings and shared weal and woe with his soldiers, earning him the title "General in Commoner’s Clothes."

In 1937, General Feng Yuxiang returned to his hometown for the second time and stayed for 45 days, spending most of that time in Zhuke Village. He donated funds to build dams for local residents, establish a seniors’ association, plant trees, construct bridges and roads, and found Yuanshan School, among many other noteworthy contributions. In 1946, he went to the United States to study water conservancy. Responding to the call of the Chinese Communist Party in 1948, he returned to China to help prepare for the new Political Consultative Conference. On September 1 of that year, while en route through the Black Sea, he died in a ship fire. In 1953, the Central People’s Government laid his ashes to rest at the foot of Mount Tai. Memorial couplets were inscribed by national leaders including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De, and Guo Moruo composed the inscription on his tombstone.

“Mastery of worldly affairs reveals heroic spirit; Commanding the times honors a man of the people.” This couplet hangs on either side of the gate to Feng Yuxiang’s former residence. It fully captures the admiration and remembrance people hold for the “General in Commoner’s Clothes.” In 1989, the local government carried out a comprehensive renovation of the residence and collected some scattered relics from his original home. A full-body granite statue of General Feng Yuxiang stands in the courtyard, appearing even more majestic and unyielding under the backdrop of surrounding pine and cypress trees. The exhibition hall displays over 120 precious photos from his life, as well as artifacts such as his wooden bed, rectangular desk, wooden chairs, and square tables. Every year, the site attracts numerous visiting schoolchildren. In 2006, it was designated as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Protected Area: A 3-meter buffer zone extends outward from the outer wall foundations of the residence (including living quarters and reception rooms) on the east, south, west, and north sides.

Construction Control Zone: Extending beyond the protected area, the zone spans 15 meters east to the residence of Wang Baoli, 40 meters south to the Cha (Lake)–Zhe (Gao) Highway, 35 meters west to a pond, and 50 meters north.

Feng Yuxiang (1882–1948), originally named Jishan, courtesy name Huanyang. Originally from Chaohu, Anhui, he was born in Xingji Town, Qing County, Hebei. In the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884) during the Qing Dynasty, he moved with his father to Baoding, where he grew up in Xikanggezhuang Village in the eastern suburbs of Baoding. Coming from a poor family, he enlisted in the Baoding Fifth Battalion in 1896 during the 22nd year of Guangxu, and transferred to the Right Wuwei Army in 1902 during the 28th year of Guangxu. He successively served as sentry commander, company officer, and battalion commander. After the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising in 1911 (3rd year of Xuantong), he joined Wang Jinming, Shi Congyun, and others in mounting a response in Luanzhou. Following the failure of the uprising, he was dismissed from service and returned to Baoding. Later he... [More detailed information about Feng Yuxiang]

Xiajia Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Chaohu City. Established as Xiajia Township in 1949, upgraded to a commune in 1958, and then to a town in 1982. Located in the northern part of the city, it is 13 kilometers from downtown. Covering an area of 67.2 square kilometers with a population of 24,000, it is traversed by the Cha (Lake)–Zhe (Gao) Highway. The Xiajia River flows into Chaohu Lake. The town administers 24 villages including Buge, Sili, Dajia, Yanliu, Dajiao, Gaosun, Chengziwei, Zhouwei, Hengtan, Dazhu, Zhanghang, Yangqi, Santang, Wangju, Nantang, Liuye, Yuanshan, Zhuke, Wanshan, Jinyang, Shizui, Qingtai, Pingding, Damiao. Agriculture focuses on planting rice, rapeseed, cotton... [More detailed information about Xiajia Town]

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units