Former Site of the Shiliao Red Army Arsenal

Former Site of the Shiliao Red Army Arsenal

The former site of the Shiliao Red Army Arsenal is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Qiu Family Residence at the former site of the Shiliao Red Army Arsenal is located at No. 3 Dawuxia, Shiliao Village, Shuixi Township, Ninghua County.

To ensure the supply of ammunition for the Red Army and guerrilla forces, the CRMC instructed provincial military districts and military sub-districts in the Central Soviet Area to establish arsenals, striving to produce weapons and ammunition and repair damaged arms to meet the combat needs of participating troops. In accordance with the CRMC’s directive, the Third Military Sub-district of the Fujian Military District (i.e., the Ningqinggui Military Sub-district) set up an arsenal in the autumn of 1933 in Dawuxia, Shiliao Township, Hepo County (now Shiliao Village, Shuixi Township, Ninghua County), with the workshop housed in the Qiu Family Residence. After its establishment, the arsenal mainly produced rifles, handguns, and repaired damaged weapons for the troops. In May 1934, after Hepo County was placed under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Government of Min-Gan Province, the arsenal came under the administration of the Soviet Government of Min-Gan Province. In December 1934, following the fall of the Hepo Soviet Area, the arsenal personnel were relocated along with the government organs of the Soviet Government of Min-Gan Province and the affiliated Red Army forces.

The Qiu Family Residence at the former site of the Shiliao Red Army Arsenal faces northeast and covers an area of 117 square meters. It features a mixed post-and-lintel and mortise-and-tenon wooden structure, with some sections of the side rooms damaged and rebuilt using brick-concrete. The overall building is in relatively poor condition.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee