Former Site of the Garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple

Former Site of the Garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple

The former site of the garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple is a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple is located in Shangxu and Huoshaoping, Shipi Village, Shipi Town, Ninghua County, with Provincial Highway 307 passing along its southern side.

In August 1932, the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army was established in Ninghua County, with Chen Shuxiang as division commander and Fan Shiying as political commissar. It consisted of two regiments, each with four companies, totaling over 700 personnel. The 1st Regiment was formed from guerrilla units in Ninghua County town, Caofang, Hekou, and Huaiyang, with Qiu Guoyuan as regimental commander. The 2nd Regiment was reorganized from the Independent 7th Regiment, with Zhang Ruibiao, a native of Shipi, as regimental commander, under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Military District. Among them, the 2nd Regiment was primarily stationed at the Zhang Family Ancestral Temple (Upper Ancestral Hall) in Shangxu, Shipi Village, and the Fen Ting Xia in Huoshaoping. The 7th Independent Division earned military prestige through its combat against local armed groups such as the knife and militia bandits in the Ningqinggui region, striking fear into the enemy. A popular local rhyme praised them: “The Red 7th Independent Division, fierce as a lion, overwhelming all who stand, leaving the stubborn lying dead.” In March 1933, the 7th Independent Division was incorporated into the 55th Regiment of the 19th Red Army in Shizhen, Shanghang. In June 1933, in Jiuxian, Shanghang, the 19th Red Army was reorganized into the 34th Red Army, which was then placed under the command of the 12th Red Army and integrated into the combat sequence of the First Front Red Army.

The former site of the garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple (Upper Ancestral Hall), covers an area of 1,500 square meters, faces north with its back to the south, and is a typical well-preserved example of Qing Dynasty Hakka architecture. It is a single-courtyard brick-and-wood structure with a flush-gable roof, featuring one entry courtyard and side rooms. The beams and frames are sturdy. To the left of the main building and adjacent to the side rooms is a water vat once used by officers and soldiers of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army. The overall structure remains in good condition. It now serves as a clan ancestral hall where descendants of the Zhang family hold ancestral worship ceremonies.

The former site of the garrison of the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Independent Division of the Red Army — Zhang Family Ancestral Temple was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Ninghua County by the People's Government of Ninghua County in August 2008, and as a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province by the People's Government of Fujian Province in December 2009.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee