Former Site of the General Front Committee of the Huaihai Campaign (Memorial Hall)

Former Site of the General Front Committee of the Huaihai Campaign (Memorial Hall)

The Former Site of the General Front Committee of the Huaihai Campaign (Memorial Hall) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a Classic Red Tourism Destination, and a Patriotic Education Base.

Located in Wenchang Palace in Linhuan Town, 35 kilometers southwest of Suixi County, and Xiaolizhuang Village, 6 kilometers east of the town. During the Huaihai Campaign, both sites served as the temporary headquarters—the General Front Committee of the Huaihai Campaign—for commanding the entire operation.

In late 1948, due to changes in the military strength of both the Communist and Nationalist sides, the Central Committee decided to concentrate superior forces and adopt an annihilation strategy to launch a campaign in the Huaihai region, aiming to eliminate a large portion of the enemy’s effective strength and accelerate the victory of the Liberation War. It was decided that —, Chen Yi, —, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin would form the General Front Committee, with — serving as secretary, to jointly lead the Central Plains and East China Field Armies. On November 10, the General Front Committee relocated from Zhanggongdian, Henan, to Wenchang Palace in Linhuan, where an important military meeting was held to develop the campaign's operational plans. During the campaign, the General Front Committee moved again on November 23 from Wenchang Palace to Xiaolizhuang to direct combat operations. Around New Year's Day 1949, it relocated once more to Zhangcaiyuan, south of Shangqiu, Henan, operating at these locations for a total of nearly 50 days and nights.

Linhuan Town is a historic ancient town. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, it was a settlement of the Song State, and remnants of its rammed-earth city walls still remain. Wenchang Palace is located in the center of the town. Originally named Changdi Palace, it was first built during the Tang Dynasty. During the Huaihai Campaign, Wenchang Palace was a two-courtyard, north-facing complex constructed with brick and wood. Covering a length of 100 meters and width of 33 meters, the site spanned 3,300 square meters. The front courtyard was an open space, while the rear had two enclosed yards. It included five main halls, three wing rooms on each side, five rooms comprising facades and corridors, and six connected side rooms on the east and west, with an open yard behind. The east and north sides were enclosed by brick walls. This architectural complex comprised 22 rooms over 284 square meters. The buildings featured blue brick walls and gray tiled double-sloped roofs. The brick-and-wood structure of Wenchang Palace was both sturdy and spacious, forming an independent unit suitable for meetings, office work, and security, while avoiding disturbing local residents. Therefore, the General Front Committee chose it as their first headquarters to direct the campaign. Currently, the preserved site includes a rear courtyard with a four-room enclosed structure, consisting of 16 rooms covering 236.72 square meters. The buildings have been restored and maintain their original appearance. Inside, some historical documents and over 20 photos from the General Front Committee’s time are displayed, along with cultural relics such as wooden beds, tables, chairs, and stools used at the time.

Xiaolizhuang is a small natural village with only 36 farming households. A single east-west pathway runs through the village, with homes situated on either side. After moving into Xiaolizhuang, the General Front Committee requisitioned three residential houses, all located on the north side of the road.

Headquarters of the Huaihai Campaign General Front Committee: Set up in the backyard of villager — Ping’s home, which had six main rooms consisting of a stone-based, earthen-walled thatched cottage. The house contained square and long tables, with telephones placed on the tables and battle maps covering the walls. Near the eastern gable wall was a wooden bed for the duty personnel. —’s residence was located in the backyard of — Xin’s home to the east of the headquarters, a brick-based, earthen-walled thatched house. — and — stayed in the west room—a two-story, three-room space—with one wooden bed and one cabinet in each room. The room facing the entrance contained a square table and benches for meals or receiving visitors. Chen Yi stayed in the two southern rooms west of the corridor, which had a wooden bed, a long table, and a basin stand. The guards stayed in the corridor and the east room.

Office of the Huaihai Campaign General Front Committee —: Set up in the three main rooms of Li Guangrong’s home to the west of the headquarters. The building had the same structure, with square tables and long benches inside for office work.

Switchboard Room of the Huaihai Campaign General Front Committee: Set up in the two main rooms of Li Wenshan’s home. The kitchen was located in the two main rooms of — Zeng’s home. Additionally, an air-raid shelter was dug into the southern slope of an east-west ditch 150 meters northeast of the village. Covering an area of over 10 square meters, it had an earthen table and small benches for — to use for office work if needed.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the local government carried out repairs on the site. In September 1981, it was designated as a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Linhuan Town: Nestled in the beautiful and fertile Huaibei Plain, Linhuan Town lies 35 kilometers southwest of Suixi County. It borders Xiangcheng to the north, Mengcheng to the south, Guoyang to the west, and Suzhou to the east. The Xiao-Huai Highway runs through the town, making transportation very convenient. Linhuan is currently among China’s 500 pilot towns for small-city construction, a Anhui Provincial Historical and Cultural Reserve, a comprehensive reform pilot town at both the Anhui Provincial and Huaibei Municipal levels, a secondary development center of Huaibei City, and a central town in southern Huaibei.

Linhuan Town has long held an important position in history. According to the Qing-era and Ming-era Annals of Suzhou, the History of the Linhuan Commune… Detailed information about Linhuan Town ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units