Former Site of the Departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March – Fengshan Street

Former Site of the Departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March – Fengshan Street

The former site of the departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March – Fengshan Street is a cultural heritage site protected by Sanming City and a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March – Fengshan Street is located in Fengshan Village, Huaitu Township, Ninghua County.

From late February to late March 1934, the Nationalist forces under Tang Enbo, Sun Yuanliang, Wang Zhonglian, and Li Mohan of the Eastern Route Army successively captured Sha County, Jiangle, Taining, and Guihua. The Red 7th Army Corps, the Red 34th Division, and other Red Army units were forced to retreat westward to defend the Jianing–Ninghua line. From mid-May to early June of that year, the Nationalist forces under Sun Yuanliang, the 52nd Division, and the 3rd Division of the Eastern Route Army successively captured Jianing, Yong’an, and Liancheng. The Red 1st, Red 3rd, Red 7th, and Red 9th Army Corps retreated southward from the northeastern line to defend the Ninghua, Shicheng, Changting, Ningdu, and Xingguo line. After June, the Nationalist Eastern Route Army forces under Jiang Dingwen advanced from Yong’an and Liancheng toward Changting and Ninghua, the 3rd Route Army of the Nationalist Northern Route Army under Chen Cheng advanced from Guangchang toward Shicheng, and the 6th Route Army under Xue Yue advanced from Longgang toward Gulonggang, implementing a “siege and divide” strategy against the main forces of the Central Red Army.

On the eve of the Long March, approximately 14,000 troops of the Central Red Army’s main force were stationed in Ninghua, accounting for over 16% of the total strength of the Central Red Army. Among them, the 4th Division of the Red 3rd Army Corps and the corps hospital were stationed at Fenghuang Mountain in Huaitu, Ninghua (now Fengshan Village, Huaitu Township), with the 4th Division headquarters set up at the entrance of Songzhuju in Fengshan. Red Army soldiers camped in civilian houses along both sides of Fengshan Street, with nearly every household hosting Red Army troops. One regiment of the Young Communist International Division was stationed at the Aimen Pass in Huaiyang, Ninghua, while the Artillery Battalion directly under the Central Revolutionary Military Commission was stationed in Huaiyang, Ninghua. The rear organs of the Red 9th Army Corps were stationed in Shangcao, Xiacao, and Huashi areas of Caofang, Ninghua.

On October 6, 1934, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission sent three confidential telegrams to the Central Red Army forces stationed in Ninghua, ordering them to immediately hand over their defensive duties to local Red Army units and guerrilla forces. From October 6 to 8, the Central Red Army forces stationed in Huaiyang and Aimen, Ninghua, were ordered to gather at Fenghuang Mountain in Huaitu. From Fenghuang Mountain, they proceeded through Shicheng and Ruijin in Jiangxi toward Yudu (the rear organs of the Red 9th Army Corps stationed in Shangcao, Xiacao, and Huashi, Caofang, Ninghua, moved via Changting and Ruijin toward Yudu), thus beginning the Long March.

The former site of the departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March was originally Fengshan Street, with buildings along the street consisting of residential houses integrated with shops and workshops. These structures were built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and are traditional Hakka wooden buildings. The residential houses along Fengshan Street are now inhabited by villagers, and several households reside in Songzhuju. The overall architectural condition is fair.

The former site of the departure of the Central Red Army’s Long March – Fengshan Street was designated as a cultural heritage site of Ninghua County by the Ninghua County People’s Government in August 2008.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee