Former Site of the Red Army Supply Station in Helong

Former Site of the Red Army Supply Station in Helong

The Former Site of the Red Army Supply Station in Helong is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Yi Ancestral Hall at the Former Site of the Red Army Supply Station in Helong is located in Shangyi Natural Village, Helong Village, Helong Township, Ninghua County (the location of the township center).

In July 1933, the Red Army's Eastern Army won the Battle of Quanshang Fort and liberated the northeastern part of Ninghua. To strengthen the Party’s unified leadership over the new area, the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic decided on the 22nd of that month to establish Pengpai County (now Anyuan Township, Ninghua County), and in August of the same year, set up Helong District (now Helong Township, Ninghua County), which was under the jurisdiction of Pengpai County.

Helong is located between Ninghua and Pengpai, 30 kilometers south of Ninghua County town, 15 kilometers north of Pengpai County town, and approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Shicheng County town in Jiangxi (via Yanling). It is a vital passageway from western Fujian to northern Fujian. When the Nationalist army invaded the Central Soviet Area, Jianning and Taining, located in the strategic northeastern frontier of the Central Soviet Area, were inevitably targeted. The main forces of the Central Red Army, when traveling from the strategic center of the Central Soviet Area (Ruijin, Changting) and the rear area (Ninghua, Shicheng) to fight in Jianning and Taining, as well as when retreating back for rest and regrouping, had to pass through Helong. To ensure the safety and accessibility of this transportation route, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission established a Red Army supply station at the Yi Ancestral Hall in Helong in December 1932, primarily responsible for supplying food, arranging lodging, and taking in straggling Red Army soldiers for the passing combat troops.

During the Fourth and Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaigns in the Central Soviet Area, many of the Central Red Army’s main forces replenished supplies and camped en route at the Helong Red Army Supply Station, providing crucial logistical support for the combat troops. In early October 1934, the Red Army units at the Helong Supply Station, along with the Central Red Army stationed in Ninghua, set out from Fenghuangshan (today’s Fengshan Village, Huaitu Township, Ninghua County) toward Yudu in Jiangxi to begin the 25,000-li Long March.

The Former Site of the Red Army Supply Station in Helong was originally the Yi Ancestral Hall in Shangyi Natural Village, Helong Village. It faces west and covers an area of 380 square meters. This traditional Hakka building was constructed during the Qing Dynasty. It has a single-courtyard brick-and-wood hybrid structure, and the overall preservation of the building is fair.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee

Helong Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Ninghua County. In 1958, the Helong Commune was established, which merged into Zhongsha Commune in 1959. In 1982, the Helong Commune was re-established, and in 1984 it was changed into a township. It is located in the northern part of the county, 20 kilometers from the county town. Covering an area of 65 square kilometers with a population of 8,000, it is traversed by the provincial Jianwen Highway. The township administers eight village committees: Helong, Dayang, Qianjin, Yongjian, Xiayi, Gaoyang, Mingzhu, and Shaping. The main agricultural products are rice, flue-cured tobacco, and tea, with a specialty in cowhorn chili peppers. …… More details about Helong Township++