Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou

Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou

The Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou, also known as the "Red House on Zhishan Hill," was originally the American missionary school "Xunyuan Middle School," with the Red House being the principal’s residence. In April 1932, the First Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, led by Chairman Mao Zedong, captured Zhangzhou in a major victory. Chairman Mao lived in the "Red House," marking a glorious chapter in China's revolutionary history.

In the early 1930s, Zhangzhou was the second-largest city in Fujian Province. The 49th Division of the Kuomintang was stationed there, suppressing revolutionary activities in southern Fujian and repeatedly attacking the Soviet areas in western Fujian. To "divert the enemy, provoke battle, and expand the situation," Mao Zedong, then Chairman of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, proposed a strategic plan to concentrate the forces of the First and Fifth Red Armies to attack Zhangzhou, based on the domestic situation and the balance of power between the enemy and us in Guangdong and Fujian. He stated: "Politically, we must advance directly into Zhangzhou (and) Quanzhou to divert the enemy, provoke battle, and expand the situation." This correct proposal was supported by Zhou Enlai, Secretary of the Central Bureau of the Chinese Soviet Area, and approved by the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. On April 3, 1932, Comrade Mao Zedong led the First Front Army, composed of the First and Fifth Red Armies, from Changting and marched southward. They arrived quietly near Dachi in Longyan on April 8. On April 10, they launched the first battle of the eastern expedition to Zhangzhou and occupied Longyan City by the afternoon. Yang Fengnian, commander of the 145th Brigade stationed in Longyan, hastily fled to Zhangzhou. On April 11, Mao Zedong presided over a meeting in Longyan with division and regiment commanders of the First Red Army to summarize the victory at Longyan and outline next steps. On April 14, the Fifth Red Army arrived in Longyan, with the 13th Army stationed there to secure the supply line between Longyan and Zhangzhou, while the Third Red Army joined the First Red Army in the Zhangzhou campaign. The combined forces advanced from Longyan through Hexi, Shuichao, and Longshan, approaching the Baolin and Tianbao Mountain defensive lines. At dawn on April 19, the Battle of Zhangzhou began. Commander Zhang Zhen retreated into the city after being defeated on the front lines, burned the arsenal overnight, and fled the city with a few guards. By 3 p.m., the battle ended in victory. Our forces achieved a major triumph with brilliant results. The main force of the Kuomintang’s 49th Division was largely annihilated, with over 1,600 enemy soldiers captured, more than 2,300 rifles seized, along with machine guns, mountain guns, howitzers, and flat guns. The spoils also included over 130,000 rounds of ammunition, 4,900 artillery shells, 242 bombs, two aircraft, and military supplies such as telephones and radios. To help the people of Zhangzhou truly understand that the Red Army was a force fighting for the interests of the poor and to win their heartfelt support, the First Front Army conducted rigorous policy and discipline education before entering the city. At 8 a.m. on April 20, a grand ceremony marked their entry. After occupying Zhangzhou, Mao Zedong held a meeting on April 21 in the Red House on Zhishan Hill with division and regiment commanders to review the Zhangzhou campaign and plan the next steps. On April 22, Mao delivered a report titled "On the Current Political Situation and the Second Campaign" to company-level and above officers of the Fourth Red Army in Zhangzhou and sent a telegram to Zhou Enlai reporting the victory and outlining future work policies: "Publicize openly, organize secretly." Given the needs of the struggle at the time, Mao also explained that in Zhangzhou, they would distribute grain but not establish a formal government—only a temporary administrative body. During their stay in Zhangzhou, the Red Army worked closely with local party organizations and guerrilla forces to mobilize and organize the masses, promote anti-Japanese ideals, actively raise funds, expand the army, establish revolutionary governments, develop local armed forces, and open up the southern Fujian Soviet area, fulfilling the mission to "advance directly into Zhangzhou." On May 29, following orders from the Military Commission, the Red Army returned to the Soviet area in early June.

The Battle of Zhangzhou played a significant role in consolidating the Soviet area in western Fujian and developing a new revolutionary situation in southern Fujian. It stands as a successful example during the Second Revolutionary Civil War period where the Central Red Army operated outside its base area, concentrating forces for an external campaign to capture a medium-sized city. It was also a great victory of Mao Zedong’s military thought. The Red House is located within the municipal government compound at the southern foot of Zhishan Hill. The three-story brick-and-stone structure covers an area of 704 square meters, with a built-up area of 480 square meters. The building faces south and is built into the hillside, with the ground floor partially underground as a basement, constructed of stone blocks. The second and third floors are of brick-and-wood construction, with red brick walls, hence the name "Red House." Inside, there are seven rooms, with a front porch on the southwest side of the second floor featuring Romanesque arches. The third floor has a shaded terrace. The layout is rational, reflecting a distinct Western architectural style. The front and eastern sides of the house feature courtyards and gardens enclosed by walls. Three revolutionary slogans written by the Red Army during the capture of Zhangzhou remain visible on the eastern and front walls: "Organize National Revolutionary War Against Imperialist Partition of China," "Expand the Red Army," and "Expand the Revolutionary War, Carry Out Land Revolution."

The Red Army left glorious footprints and a precious spiritual legacy in Zhangzhou, embodying the "revolutionary spirit" of lofty ideals, firm conviction, fearless sacrifice, perseverance, and dedication to the fundamental interests of the people. To inherit the fine traditions of revolutionary martyrs and promote the revolutionary spirit of the Red Army, in 1957, Zhangzhou City converted the "Red House on Zhishan Hill," where Chairman Mao once lived, into the "Southern Fujian Revolutionary Memorial Hall." It was renamed the "Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou" in 1971. The "Red House on Zhishan Hill" has been designated as a provincial cultural relic protection unit, a "Fujian Provincial Youth Revolutionary Tradition Education Base," and a "Fujian Provincial Patriotic Education Base," becoming an important ideological education site in Zhangzhou.

The memorial hall houses a rich collection, including extensive Party history materials on revolutionary activities in southern Fujian, as well as maps, charts, proclamations, portraits, and photographs of sites related to the Red Army’s capture of Zhangzhou. There are four exhibition rooms in total. Following the principles of seeking truth from facts and respecting history, the exhibitions focus on the Battle of Zhangzhou. Among them, the "Chairman Mao’s Workroom" is arranged as it originally was, based on the recollections and guidance of veterans such as Deng Zihui, Luo Ming, Zeng Zhi, and Wu Jieqing (Chairman Mao’s guard), who once lived in the same building. The exhibits also include valuable original copies of three telegrams from "Chairman Mao to Zhou Enlai," historical photos such as "Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen in Front of an Airplane," "Red Army Commanders Visiting an Airplane," and "Group Photo of All Commanders of the Fourth Red Army." There are also portraits of 94 generals who entered Zhangzhou in 1932 and were awarded military ranks in 1955 (three marshals, one senior general, 12 generals, 23 lieutenant generals, and 55 major generals). The Red Army's presence in Zhangzhou left behind many touching legends and stories, forming a vivid, intuitive, authentic, and unique patriotic educational resource.

To further promote the revolutionary spirit of the Red Army, expand and extend educational platforms, and enhance publicity, the "Monument Commemorating the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army First Front Army’s Capture of Zhangzhou" was established on the left front side of the memorial hall in 1992, the 60th anniversary of the event. The monument’s inscription was penned by Marshal Nie Rongzhen, former political commissar of the First Front Army, upon approval from the central and provincial authorities. The monument features an innovative design with profound symbolism. Its abstract form resembles both a red flag and a sharp sword, representing the Red Army. It was designed based on the meaning of Mao Zedong’s sixteen-character poem: "Mountain, piercing the blue sky, blade unbroken, if heaven falls, it will be our pillar." The main body of the monument is supported by two H-shaped pillars, symbolizing the support of workers and peasants for the Red Army, forming a trinity. The base consists of three layers of black granite rings, signifying that the Red Army advanced to Zhangzhou after crushing the Kuomintang’s three “encirclement campaigns.” The monument stands 1932 cm tall, representing the year of the eastern campaign to Zhangzhou. The base has six steps, symbolizing the 60th anniversary. The golden hammer and sickle at the top remind people to always remember that it was the Communist Party of China that led the revolutionary army and people to establish the socialist homeland. The memorial hall and monument complement each other, attracting numerous visitors.

In December 1956, Comrade Deng Zihui personally identified and confirmed that the headquarters of the First Front Army of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army stationed in Zhangzhou in 1932 was located in the original teaching building of Xunyuan Middle School, now Building No. 6, resolving a long-standing research question since the memorial hall’s establishment.

The Memorial Hall Commemorating Chairman Mao Leading the Red Army to Capture Zhangzhou is situated at the foot of Zhishan Hill, within the current compound of the Zhangzhou Municipal People’s Government. Since its establishment, the memorial hall has remained open to the public for free, attracting a continuous stream of visitors.

Further Reading:

·National Third-Class Museum of China