Peng Xuefeng Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Xinxing Town

Peng Xuefeng Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Xinxing Town

The Peng Xuefeng Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Xinxing Town is a cultural tourism attraction, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Peng Xuefeng Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Xinxing Town, also known as the New Fourth Army Fourth Division Memorial Hall, is located in Xinxingji, Woyang County, about 20 kilometers from the county seat. It borders Yongcheng City of Henan Province to the north, and is a key cultural relics protection unit of Anhui Province, a provincial defense education base, a provincial patriotic education base for youth, and a patriotic education base of Bozhou City.

The New Fourth Army Fourth Division Memorial Hall was originally the site of the headquarters of the New Fourth Army Fourth Division. On May 2, 1945, Zhang Zhen, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and former Chief of Staff of the Fourth Division, visited Xinxingji to pay his respects. He named and inscribed the name “New Fourth Army Fourth Division Memorial Hall.” The memorial hall covers an area of 12 mu, has 34 rooms, and employs three full-time staff.

In early September 1939, Peng Xuefeng led the New Fourth Army guerrilla detachment to Xinxingji, establishing the Yu-Wan-Su Border Anti-Japanese Base centered around Xinxingji. On November 6, 1939, Comrade Liu Shaoqi, under the alias Hu Fu, came here for an inspection. On February 1, 1940, by order of the New Fourth Army, the detachment was renamed the New Fourth Army Sixth Detachment. By the end of June 1940, it merged with the Eighth Route Army’s Second Column, led by Huang Kecheng, which had marched southward, forming the New Fourth Army Fourth Column. On January 2, 1941, during the re-establishment of the New Fourth Army headquarters, it was reorganized as the New Fourth Army Fourth Division. In early May 1941, Peng Xuefeng led the troops to relocate east of the Jinpu Railway.

During the more than one year that Peng Xuefeng and his troops were stationed in Xinxingji, they built a deep bond with the local people. To commemorate Peng Xuefeng’s illustrious achievements and honor the immortal contributions of the New Fourth Army, in 1992, under the urgent request of the local people and the attention of governments at all levels, it was decided to renovate and construct the New Fourth Army Fourth Division Memorial Hall. A total of 160,000 yuan was raised through donations from governments, party committees, and various sectors of society, which funded the construction of 16 rooms for the operational office, cipher office, and Peng Xuefeng’s former residence of the New Fourth Army Fourth Division Headquarters, covering an area of 320 square meters.

In 1996, governments at all levels allocated a total of 280,000 yuan to build 18 rooms including the former residences of Liu Shaoqi and Zhang Zhen, the operations office, and the former site of the Morning Light Newspaper, covering an area of about 350 square meters. This phase of the project and the 1992 phase were divided into eastern and western courtyards, with new walls and gates constructed, connecting the two courtyards both separately and as one. A half-length marble statue of General Peng Xuefeng was placed in the courtyard. At the same time, to protect the stele commemorating Peng Xuefeng’s virtuous governance, it was moved from the street into the courtyard.

In 1998, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Liu Shaoqi’s birth and the 60th anniversary of the New Fourth Army’s eastward advance, governments at all levels allocated another 500,000 yuan to recast a 3.5-meter-high bronze statue of General Peng Xuefeng on horseback. General Zhang Aiping inscribed the five characters “Comrade Peng Xuefeng” on the statue. Historical photos and a revolutionary relics exhibition were also arranged, and the courtyard was landscaped.

In 2004, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of General Peng Xuefeng’s martyrdom in the War of Resistance, the Woyang County Party Committee and County Government called on party members, cadres, and people from all walks of life to donate over 200,000 yuan for the renovation of the memorial hall and cemetery. Relevant personnel were organized to visit places such as Xibaipo for learning, and the exhibition rooms were refurbished to high standards, with additional relics added. Interior renovations and landscaping were carried out, and since then, visitors have come in an endless stream.

In 2005, the New Fourth Army Fourth Division Memorial Hall was listed as the starting point of the Anhui Red Tourism Route — the Northern Line of the New Fourth Army Commemorative Journey. The Bozhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government also have long-term plans to expand the memorial hall’s area and enrich its exhibition content, so that the glorious achievements of General Peng Xuefeng and the fine traditions of the New Fourth Army will forever inspire future generations.

Related information: No admission fee; visitors are required to sign in; estimated visiting time is 2 hours. Transportation is via the road from Woyang County to Yongcheng, Henan, passing through Xinxing Town, 25 kilometers from Woyang County, with a 40-minute drive. Get off at Xinxing Town and walk for 10 minutes to reach the site.

Peng Xuefeng (1907–1944), originally named Peng Xiudao, with the childhood name Xinglong, also used the aliases Wang Min and Peng Xuefeng, was from Zhenping, Henan. He was a senior commander and military strategist of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army and the New Fourth Army.

Peng Xuefeng began reading and practicing calligraphy with his grandfather at the age of four. As he grew older, he attended a private school in his village, as well as the county granary school and Chayuan Higher Primary School, graduating from primary school in 1921. At the age of 14, he went alone to Tianjin to join his uncle who was teaching there, and was admitted to Tianjin Nankai Middle School. In 1923, he entered the Officer Cadet School of the 16th Mixed Brigade of the Army, where he pursued revolutionary truths and embraced Marxism... More details about Peng Xuefeng++

Xinxing Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Woyang County. One of the old revolutionary bases. In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was established as Xuefeng Township. In 1958, it became Xuefeng Commune, and in 1983, it was renamed Xinxing Township. In 1992, it was formed by merging the former Xinxing, Dacao, and Dali townships. Located in the northern part of the county, 22 kilometers from the county seat, it borders Yongcheng City of Henan Province. It covers an area of 92.5 square kilometers with a population of 49,000. The Woyang-Yongcheng Highway passes through the town, along with the Wuxin River, Lingzi Gully, and Qinglong Gully. The town administers Xinxing, Liuji, Qianliu, Yuliang, Zhangda, Zhangxinglou, Wangzhai, Cui Zhang, Taoliang, Beisunlou, Dongcao, Jing... More details about Xinxing Town++