Site of the Farmers' Representative Congress of Xianyou County

Site of the Farmers' Representative Congress of Xianyou County

The Site of the Farmers' Representative Congress of Xianyou County is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Site of the Farmers' Representative Congress of Xianyou County is located in Baima Natural Village, Longxing Village, Laidian Town, Xianyou County, Putian City.

In 1933, the local Kuomintang authorities and warlords levied 360,000 silver dollars in military taxes on Xianyou, to be distributed among the county’s entire population — over one dollar per person. At that time, each load of grain was worth only slightly more than one dollar, which meant that each person was effectively required to hand over more than 100 pounds of grain. The oppressive military taxes drove the people of Xianyou to the brink of ruin. With no way out, the fury of the Xianyou populace erupted like a volcano. The CPC Xianyou County Committee seized the moment and decided to guide the people in resisting taxes and levies. To this end, in early October of the same year, they issued the “Proclamation to Farmers on the Autumn Harvest Struggle,” which stated: “The unforgettable exploitation and oppression have left us with no way out. Now, there is only one path: for everyone to unite and bravely wage a resolute struggle against the landlords, gentry, bourgeoisie, and the Kuomintang, in order to relieve our suffering... This autumn harvest season is the hardest time for us yet. The drought has dried up the rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and taro, leading to a disastrous harvest. The landlords still try to snatch away every last grain, creditors demand repayment, the government presses for taxes and levies, and conscription for the militia is enforced. There is a tax on everything, imperialist aggression intensifies, and even firewood can’t be sold for a decent price. Hunger and death are coiling around us like snakes!” It called on the people: “The unbearable suffering has made it clear: only we, the poor, can save ourselves, and only by uniting under the correct leadership of the Communist Party can we achieve complete liberation!”

After the “Proclamation to Farmers on the Autumn Harvest Struggle” was distributed, it caused a strong reaction across the county. On October 23, the CPC Xianyou County Committee held a county-wide farmers' representative congress in Baima Palace, attended by over 300 farmers from more than 20 townships. Qiu Rongquan, the County Party Secretary, delivered a mobilization speech, calling on the masses to organize themselves, oppose the Kuomintang’s reactionary rule, resist oppressive taxes and levies, actively join rent resistance groups, and take part in the autumn harvest struggle. The attending masses were highly inspired and full of fighting spirit, and the congress became a clarion call for the anti-tax struggle. Starting the very next day, farmers across the county sprang into action. During the day, they drove away tax collectors, smashed tax offices, and even cut down electric poles, severed wires, and dug up roads. At night, they lit signal fires on mountain tops and beat drums and gongs to build momentum, making the anti-tax wave burn fiercely. The local tax bullies and gentry, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, went into hiding everywhere.

On December 1 of the same year, the 19th Route Army forces stationed in Xianyou held a celebration assembly in the county seat for the establishment of the “Chinese People's Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China.” The County Committee mobilized members of the peasant associations and representatives from all walks of life to attend the celebration. After the assembly, the protest crowd surrounded the South Gate Tax Office, and members of the peasant association stormed and destroyed it. A few days later, the County Committee took advantage of the momentum to lead the masses in smashing the city’s tax office. The 19th Route Army forces stationed in Xianyou also, at the strong request of the people, executed some of the most heinous corrupt officials and bandit leaders. Within just a few days, all tax offices and collection agencies across the county’s townships were demolished by the people, some tax bullies fled elsewhere to hide, and the people of Xianyou achieved their first comprehensive victory in the anti-tax struggle under the direct organizational leadership of the CPC Xianyou County Committee.

The Site of the Farmers' Representative Congress of Xianyou County is Baima Palace. The original temple has been demolished, and the current Baima Palace is a newly relocated structure built in 1986. It is a single-story brick-concrete building with a floor area of 190 square meters.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Putian Municipal Committee

Laidian Town: A township under the jurisdiction of Xianyou County. One of the county’s largest hometowns of overseas Chinese. Established as Laidian Commune in 1958, restructured as a township in 1984, and upgraded to a town in 1991. Located in the southern part of the county, on the south bank of the Mulan River. Covers an area of 96.1 square kilometers with a population of 76,000. The Sanjiao Highway runs through the area. Administers 26 village committees: Tushan, Xiangling, Liuxian, Jintian, Ban Tou, Zhangpu, Xipu, Qianpu, Xinzhou, Wenquan, Shengquan, Xipu, Yutian, Yuta, Luofeng, Shanwei, Yudun, Yushan, Dongshan, Hengtang, Mailing, Linchen, Longxing, Laidian, Qishan, and Zhanglin. The main agricultural products are rice, sugarcane, and livestock. Township... More detailed information on Laidian Town++