Site of the Zhangzhou Battle of the Central Red Army’s Eastern Route Army

Site of the Zhangzhou Battle of the Central Red Army’s Eastern Route Army

The Site of the Zhangzhou Battle of the Central Red Army’s Eastern Route Army is a classic red tourism destination.

The Shiziling and Fengshuangling areas in Nanping Village, Longshan Town, Nanjing County, were the main battlefields of the Zhangzhou Battle of the Central Red Army’s Eastern Route Army. In April 1932, under the leadership of Mao Zedong, Lin Biao, Nie Rongzhen, and Luo Ronghuan, the Central Red Army’s Eastern Route Army marched into Fujian to carry out the tasks of eliminating enemy forces in the province, consolidating western Fujian, and raising funds. From April 16 to 19, after capturing Longyan, the Eastern Route Army advanced directly toward Zhangzhou. Mao Zedong personally went to the Nanjing front line to develop the battle plan for taking Tianbao Mountain. The army’s forward headquarters was set up in Nanping Village, Longshan Town. Mao Zedong directed the battle from the forward headquarters. The Eastern Route Army divided into two forces to attack Zhangzhou—one advancing toward Tianbao and the other toward Jingcheng. They successively captured more than 10 towns, annihilated most of the Kuomintang’s 49th Division, and took 1,674 prisoners including a deputy brigade commander. They also seized 2,331 rifles, 9 machine guns, 2 mountain guns, 2 airplanes, and large quantities of military supplies, while raising one million silver dollars. After the successful capture of Zhangzhou, Mao Zedong instructed the Zhangzhou Central County Committee and the Minnan Red Army guerrilla unit to seize the opportunity to consolidate the Jinghepu Red region and establish a rural revolutionary base. The victory of the Zhangzhou Battle had significant influence in the history of China’s military struggles and the history of the struggles of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. It played a positive role in the formation and development of Mao Zedong’s military thought and provided valuable experience for the Party to better lead armed struggles during the Agrarian Revolutionary Period, carry out mass work, and achieve victories.

Source: Party History Research Office of Zhangzhou Municipal Committee