Site Cluster of the Songmaoling Battle

Site Cluster of the Songmaoling Battle

The Site Cluster of the Songmaoling Battle is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

The Site Cluster of the Songmaoling Battle is located in Liaofang Village, Lianwugang Village, Dengfang Village, Qiaoxia Village, Huangjiazhuang Village, Caiwu Village, Zhongfu Village, Baiyeyang Village, Changkoutou Village, Guanfang Village, Wuhang Village, Yangxie Village, Tangbei Village in Nanshan Town, Changting County, as well as Wenfang Village in Pengkou Town, Liancheng County, dating back to 1934.

Introduction: It consists of battlefield sites of the Songmaoling Battle in Changting County, the former site of the battlefield hospital of the Songmaoling Battle—Chao Fang Walled House, the former site of the Red Army recruitment center—Red Army Bridge, the former site of the forward command post of the Songmaoling Battle—Cao Residence, the former site of the frontline headquarters in Liancheng County—Guo Gongzhai, the former site of the battlefield hospital of the Wenfang Battle—Dongshan Temple, the former site of the Soviet Government of Wenfang—Yingwu Ancestral Hall, the former site of the Youth Sports Games of the 24th Division of the First Red Army Corps—Wenfang Ancient Theater, the Red Army Pavilion at Sanjiao Pit on Qiling Mountain, and the former site of the activities of the Wusi Association, among others. The Monument to the Martyrs of the Songmaoling Battle serves as an affiliated cultural relic. The Songmaoling Battle was the final engagement before the Long March, fought under the command of Zhu De, Lin Biao, Nie Rongzhen, Luo Binghui, and others, between the Red Army and the Nationalist forces during the later stages of the Fifth Encirclement Campaign. In mid-August 1934, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Li Yannian, Song Xilian, and six other reorganized divisions along with one artillery regiment—totaling over 100,000 troops—to advance toward Songmaoling from the direction of Liancheng, aiming “to first capture Changting, then move on to Ruijin and Xingguo, pressuring [the Red Army] into the Gan River and annihilating them.” From September 1 to 3, the First Red Army Corps eliminated over 4,000 enemy troops in Wenfang, Liancheng. After reorganizing their offensive strategy, the Nationalist forces launched an attack on Songmaoling at 7:00 AM on September 23. The Ninth Red Army Corps, the 24th Division of the Red Army, and tens of thousands of local armed forces engaged in unprecedentedly fierce combat with the enemy. The battle lasted seven days and nights until September 30. On September 30, the Ninth Red Army Corps held a mass oath-taking rally in front of the Guanshou Ancestral Hall in Zhongwu Village (now Zhongfu Village), Changting County, before embarking on the world-famous 25,000-li Long March. In this battle, over ten thousand Red Army soldiers sacrificed heroically, buying precious time for the strategic transfer of the Central Red Army.

In 2018, the Site Cluster of the Songmaoling Battle was designated as part of the ninth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units by the People’s Government of Fujian Province.

Protected Area: Battlefield Sites of the Songmaoling Battle: approximately 15 km in length from north to south and 600–900 m in width from east to west, covering Red Army positions along a line including Jinhua Mountain, Zhuzong Ridge, Aidongtou, Caomolin, Qiling Hengpai, Baiyeyang Ridge, Shanmu Ridge, Gouer Dong, Zhangjiatang, Liukeng, and Zaibeishan, encompassing about 1,200 hectares; Monument to the Martyrs of the Songmaoling Battle: 500 m extension outward from each outer wall of the structure; Other Former Sites: 20 m extension outward from each outer wall of the structures.

Liaofang Village: Located in the northeastern part of Nanshan Town, Liaofang Village lies at the junction of two counties (Changting and Liancheng) and four towns (Xuanhe and Luofang in Liancheng, Tongfang and Nanshan in the current county). The terrain is relatively high, surrounded by mountains on all sides, forming a small high-altitude basin. It is about 13 km from National Highway 319 and over 20 km from the town center, truly a remote mountainous area. The village has over 180 households (divided into three natural villages) with a population of 897, cultivating more than 900 mu of arable land (including reclaimed land), averaging over 1 mu per person. The forested area averages over 40 mu per person. With a sparse population and vast land, plus its remote location and inconvenient transportation, these factors are the main bottlenecks restricting the village’s economic development. …… More details about Liaofang Village ++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Fujian