Monument to the Battle Site of the Blocking Action Along the Jian-Tai Line

Monument to the Battle Site of the Blocking Action Along the Jian-Tai Line

The Monument to the Battle Site of the Blocking Action Along the Jian-Tai Line is a classic site on China’s red tourism routes.

The Monument to the Battle Site of the Blocking Action Along the Jian-Tai Line is located at the head of the Golden Lake Suspension Bridge in Meikou Township, Taining County.

On March 19, 1934, after the failure of the Taining County Defense Battle, the 34th Division of the Red 5th Army Corps withdrew from Taining County and, following orders from the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, continued to be stationed along the Jian-Tai Line to block and delay the enemy advancing toward Jianning. Over the 20 days from April 22 to May 9, they engaged in six grueling battles of resistance at Lijiabang, Youdian, Yikou, Meikou, Wan Zhouling, and Hengluxia, dealing heavy blows to the Nationalist forces.

The most difficult battle was the one at Meikou. Located at the confluence of the Shanxi and Suixi rivers, Meikou was a key hub for water and land transportation between Jianning and Taining counties, making its geographical position extremely important. The Red 34th Division stationed at Meikou, with the support of the local Soviet government and the masses, had long built defensive fortifications along the river and stood ready for battle. On April 26, the 527th Regiment of the 264th Brigade of the 88th Division of the Nationalist Army advanced to Dianshang Village on the eastern bank of Meikou. With the strong firepower of artillery paving the way, they covered the engineering battalion as it erected a pontoon bridge. The Red 34th Division’s 100th and 102nd Regiments, holding the riverbank, concentrated their machine gun and small arms fire on the river surface. The two sides held their positions throughout the day, with the Nationalist forces suffering heavy casualties before ceasing their attack at 6 p.m. On April 27, two battalions of the 527th Regiment attempted to cross the river forcefully, wading through the waters of the Jinxi River. Immediately, soldiers of the Red 100th Regiment’s 2nd Battalion engaged in close combat, pushing the enemy back into the river, though their flank was breached by the Nationalists. After seizing the riverbank, the Nationalists, together with the engineering battalion, hurriedly dug trenches and erected a pontoon bridge. Only after follow-up troops crossed and assembled did they begin advancing deeper into the Red Army’s positions. By 3 p.m., the Nationalists had captured Meikou. After withdrawing from Meikou, the Red 34th Division still held the high ground at Wan Zhouling with the 102nd Regiment, while the 100th and 101st Regiments moved to Qianyuan and Hengluxia to continue containing and delaying the Nationalist advance toward Jianning. Eventually, due to being vastly outnumbered, despite repeated hand-to-hand combats, the Red Army was forced to abandon its positions and retreat toward Jianning.

During the blocking battles along the Jian-Tai Line, the Red Army killed over 150 Nationalist officers and soldiers, wounded over 200, and captured more than 100 rifles. The Red Army also suffered significant casualties, with the commander of the 102nd Regiment, Lü Guanyin, the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 100th Regiment, Wang Degui, and over 300 soldiers sacrificing their lives.

In 2001, to commemorate the battles along the Jian-Tai Line, the civil affairs department of Taining County erected a monument at the head of the Golden Lake Suspension Bridge in Meikou Township. In 1980, most of the battle sites along the Jian-Tai Line were submerged underwater following the completion and impoundment of the Chitan Hydropower Station dam.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee

Meikou Township: Located in the central-southwestern part of the county, Meikou Township borders Jianning County to the west, adjoins Shan Cheng Town and Xiaqu Township to the northeast and east, connects to Datian Township to the north, and neighbors Dabu Township to the south, covering a total area of 176 square kilometers. It has 0.8 hectares of arable land. In March 1980, after the completion of the Chitan Hydropower Station and the closing of its dam, an artificial lake—the northern half of Golden Lake—was formed, with Meikou Township situated within its area. The township seat, Yangdi Temple, was originally a secluded spot that served as both a temple and a school. After the formation of Golden Lake, the once-prosperous southern market towns of Meikou, Gekou, from Shuiji to Qitan, all became part of the reservoir area. The township was then relocated to Yongkeng, also known as… More detailed information about Meikou Township++