Site of the Counterattack at Xinqiao

Site of the Counterattack at Xinqiao

The Site of the Counterattack at Xinqiao is a classic red tourism destination.

The Site of the Counterattack at Xinqiao is located at Beiyaojipeng in Xinqiao Village, Xinqiao Township, Taining County.

In October 1933, the Nationalist army began its fifth “encirclement and suppression” campaign against the Central Soviet Area. On the night of December 15, after the Nationalist forces captured Desheng Pass at the border between Taining and Lichuan, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission was compelled to order the main force of the Red Army to withdraw back to Taining and begin shifting to a defensive phase. On March 22, 1934, after the 13th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps arrived at Xinqiao, they immediately started constructing fortifications and dispatched the 1st Battalion of the 38th Red Regiment to the two mountain passes of Wuliao and Yanyi at the border between Taining and Lichuan, in order to block the 3rd Column of the Nationalist Northern Route Army, which was advancing southward from Desheng Pass in Lichuan. This move aimed to disrupt the Nationalist plan for their Eastern and Northern Route Armies to converge at Xinqiao. Starting on March 23, the Nationalist army launched fierce attacks with five to six times the manpower of the Red Army. After several seesaw battles, they broke through the Red Army’s defensive lines. At dawn on March 25, part of the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division of the 10th Column of the Nationalist Eastern Route Army, along with the 24th Regiment, entered Xinqiao and began attacking the Yaoyijipeng high ground defended by two battalions of the 1st Regiment of the 1st Red Army Corps. Under the cover of heavy weapons, the Nationalist forces advanced toward the Red Army positions. The 1st Regiment of the Red Army abandoned the first peak of Yaoyijipeng and withdrew to the second peak to hold their ground. The main force of the Nationalist army then launched a fierce assault on the second peak. Local militia forces such as the Beixiang Defense Corps of Taining also attacked the Red Army’s right flank. The Red Army put up a tenacious resistance and repelled seven enemy charges. Around 11 a.m., the 3rd Red Army Corps and the 13th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps arrived as reinforcements. Seizing the momentum, the Red Army counterattacked the first peak of Yaoyijipeng, driving the enemy back to Xinqiao. Faced with the overwhelming offensive of the Central Red Army's core forces, the Nationalist troops panicked, abandoning ammunition, supplies, and wounded soldiers, and fled in all directions. During their retreat, they set fire to civilian houses, shops, and the wooden bridge on the street on both sides of Xinqiao to block the Red Army’s pursuit. That same evening, the 1st Red Army Corps launched a night attack on the 19th Regiment of the Nationalist army, which had retreated to the southeastern hills of Xinqiao, and the 24th Regiment on Sanxianling Heights. Despite more than ten consecutive assaults, they were unsuccessful. At 9 p.m. on the 26th, another attack was launched but still failed, allowing the Nationalist army to regain control of Xinqiao. On the 27th, the 237th Regiment of the 79th Division of the 3rd Column of the Nationalist Northern Route Army launched another attack on the Yaoyijipeng high ground, while the 10th Column also sent the 20th Regiment to outflank Yaoyijipeng to assist in the battle. Due to the slow progress of the counterattacks by the 38th and 39th Red Regiments, Yaoyijipeng fell. The enemy began constructing bunkers section by section but showed no intention of advancing further. After holding their position against the enemy for two days, the Red Army withdrew to Emei Peak. On April 2, they retreated again to areas such as Xinhua’an, Datian, and Xikou (now Xiyuan Village in Jianning County) for rest and regrouping. On April 5, the 3rd Column of the Nationalist Northern Route Army moved southward from Xinqiao toward Nanfeng, showing signs of advancing toward Guangchang. The Central Revolutionary Military Commission ordered the 1st and 3rd Red Army Corps to return and participate in the defense of Guangchang. The 13th Division was left behind at Emei Peak to delay the enemy and rest, staying there until April 15 before departing.

The Battle of Xinqiao saw the Red Army concentrate a force of five divisions and two regiments, including the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 1st Red Army Corps, the 4th and 5th Divisions of the 3rd Red Army Corps, the 13th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps, and two regiments of the Model Division. The enemy deployed three divisions and one regiment, namely the 4th, 6th, and 79th Divisions, making this the most intense and largest-scale battle fought in Taining. Over the course of six days from March 22 to 27, the Red Army organized eight major and minor battles. Although they failed to achieve the intended goal of preventing the 3rd and 10th Columns of the enemy from converging at Xinqiao, they killed or wounded over 1,000 enemy troops, captured numerous weapons and ammunition, and achieved significant results. The battle also delayed the Nationalist army’s attempt to encircle Jian’ning, playing a positive role in the Fifth Encirclement and Suppression Campaign against the Central Red Army. At the time, the official publication of the Red Army’s General Political Department, Hongxing Bao (Red Star Newspaper), edited by Deng Xiaoping, published a detailed report on this battle.

The main battlefield of the Battle of Xinqiao, Yaoyijipeng, is a strategically important highland with an area of about 5,000 square meters. Below the mountain lies the Xinqiao Basin. It is surrounded by undulating hills, dense vegetation, and various plants such as pine, fir, and bamboo.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee

Xinqiao Village: Located at the site of the Xinqiao Township government. ... More details about Xinqiao Village++