Former Site of Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Base in the Maritime Region of Central Fujian

Former Site of Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Base in the Maritime Region of Central Fujian

The former site of the anti-Japanese guerrilla base in the maritime region of Central Fujian is a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the anti-Japanese guerrilla base in the maritime region of Central Fujian is located on the coastal islands of Huanggua, Nanyu, and Wuci in Xiuyu District, Putian City.

In July 1940, the Kuomintang authorities in Putian mobilized security forces to destroy the anti-Japanese office in Wangcuo Village, Zhongmen. The CCP Putian County Committee was forced to relocate to islands in Pinghai Bay such as Nanyu and Huanggua to establish a new anti-Japanese base. Given the perilous struggle environment within the Kuomintang-controlled areas, and in order to preserve and develop anti-Japanese armed forces, the CCP Central Fujian organization, following the Party Central Committee’s general guideline of “concealing strength and biding time,” decided to infiltrate the puppet navy "Fujian Peace Salvation Army" and carry out covert operations.

The islands along the Putian coast were controlled by the Second Army Group of the "Fujian Peace Salvation Army," commanded by Zhang Yizhou, a native of Xianyou. Due to internal factionalism among the puppet troops, each faction sought to expand its own power by competing for territory, which provided an opportunity for the guerrillas to infiltrate. In the winter of 1940, the CCP Putian County Committee sent Dai Tianbao and Chen Wentong to infiltrate the puppet Second Battalion stationed on Wuci Island under Zhang Tianzhen, posing as fellow townsmen and “former bandit acquaintances.” They served respectively as Zhang Tianzhen’s adjutant and a company clerk. After learning about the puppet troops, Dai Tianbao facilitated a kinship bond between Zhang Tianzhen and Zhang Boying, the CCP Putian County Committee Secretary, by arranging for them to become sworn brothers, further strengthening their ties with the puppet forces. Subsequently, the CCP Central Fujian organization took advantage of Zhang Tianzhen’s expansion efforts and organized multiple infiltrations of guerrilla members into the puppet army. Especially between June 1942 and March 1943, a total of 157 guerrilla fighters went undercover at sea. In response, Zhang Boying proposed to Zhang Tianzhen the establishment of a Second Company. The CCP Southern Fujian (Central) Special Committee subsequently assigned Zhang Feng and Zhang Guoqiang (originally named Kang Jinzhao) as commanders of the Second Company, with Yang Qisong and Liu Zupi serving successively as political instructors, and Lin Deli as the Party branch secretary. In May 1943, the CCP Central Fujian Special Committee also sent Weng Hongtang, who had returned to Putian after fighting in the north, to reinforce leadership over the undercover operatives. Using the alias Zhang Guodong, Weng was recommended to Zhang Tianzhen by Zhang Boying as a sworn brother and was appointed as the battalion’s staff officer and political training officer. The Party also established strict maritime discipline: “Follow all orders, keep Party secrets, and abstain from smoking opium, gambling, or visiting brothels,” ensuring the Party’s organizational leadership was maintained during the undercover period. Thanks to strong Party leadership and strict discipline, the maritime guerrilla fighters did not adopt the corrupt habits of the puppet troops during more than four years of undercover struggle. They maintained the noble character and firm revolutionary will of Communists, becoming a special force trained by the Party capable of withstanding various tests. By 1944, Zhang Tianzhen’s puppet Independent Second Battalion included four companies, three of which had a guerrilla majority, and the Party had control over the leadership of the second and third companies. The second company, in particular, consisted entirely of underground operatives, had the largest number of personnel and the best equipment, making it the most combat-capable unit and highly valued by Zhang Tianzhen. The maritime covert armed forces led by the CCP Central Fujian organization had nearly decisive influence over the puppet Independent Second Battalion.

While maintaining secrecy, the maritime guerrillas of Central Fujian established anti-Japanese covert bases on islands and coastal promontories such as Nanyu, Huanggua, Wuci, and Lusi. Leveraging the various conflicts among the Japanese, puppet forces, and anti-Communist factions, as well as internal strife within the puppet troops, they engaged in a series of covert struggles—fighting the puppets with puppets, attacking the anti-Communists with puppets, and striking the Japanese with puppets. On this unique battlefield, they waged complex struggles against the Japanese, puppets, and anti-Communist forces. They not only preserved their strength but also expanded their armed forces, supported resistance efforts behind enemy lines, and successfully accomplished the “four tasks” of eliminating Japanese troops, undermining traitors, winning over puppet forces, and countering attacks by the Kuomintang anti-Communist troops. Their efforts earned recognition from the Central China Bureau and made a special contribution to the War of Resistance Against Japan.

The Huanggua Island site, one of the former anti-Japanese guerrilla bases in the maritime region of Central Fujian, is a small island in Xinghua Bay. It faces the sea from Qihu, Dinggang, Fuqing, and other areas, and is 37 nautical miles from the mainland. The island covers an area of 0.67 square kilometers. Its residents mainly engage in fishing and aquaculture, and it is a natural village under Meitou Town, Xiuyu District, Putian. The anti-Japanese base village of Yanxia is located 2 kilometers southwest of Nanyu Town, encompassing six natural villages: Yanxia, Dacu Chen, Dacu Niang, Dacu Niang Xia, Huoshao Duo, and Shanjing.

Source: Putian Municipal Party Committee Party History Research Office