Former Site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit

Former Site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit

The former site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit is a cultural heritage site protected by Xiuyu District, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit is located in Group 5, Pearl River Village, Dongqiao Town, Xiuyu District, Putian City.

In February 1927, the Putian Party organization began activities in Pearl River, establishing a farmers' association and carrying out struggles against taxes and levies. In October of the same year, the Zhulin (Pearl River) Branch of the Communist Party of China was established. In November 1929, Chen Zhaofang, Wu Chengbin, and others, members of the Putian County Committee of the CPC, organized a guerrilla unit of 40 to 50 people in the coastal areas of Putian. Chen Zhaofang served as captain and Wu Chengbin as deputy captain. During their operations, Chen Zhaofang adopted a strategy of “dispersing for production and concentrating to strike the enemy,” which played a significant role in the early stages of the local agrarian revolutionary war, effectively mobilizing and training the masses. After some time, the guerrilla unit established over 10 revolutionary base villages in the area, including Yuetai, Laizha, and Pearl River, making Pearl River Village an important stronghold for revolutionary activities in Putian.

In 1946, Yang Qisong, a leader of the Putian Party organization, secretly mobilized efforts in Zhongmen District to rebuild the guerrilla unit. In November of the same year, the Central Fujian Special Committee of the CPC sent Lin Runan back to the coastal areas of Putian to assist Yang Qisong in restoring and expanding armed struggle along the coast. The Beigao, Pearl River, and Zhongmen guerrilla units were established. In February 1947, these units were unified into the Putian Guerrilla Unit, which merged into the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column (also known as the Daiyun Column) in April. In the same month, Huang Guozhang, Lin Runan, and others, following orders from the Provincial Committee, led the guerrilla column to fight in the Daiyun Mountains. In July, the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column suffered a major setback when surrounded by overwhelming enemy forces in the Daiyun Mountains. Commanders such as Luo Yingxiang, Gao Zuwu, Lin Jinying, and Dai Tianbao sacrificed their lives, and the unit suffered heavy losses. Following the defeat in the Daiyun Mountains, the Nationalist authorities launched focused “cleansing” campaigns across Central Fujian. Over 200 party cadres and key guerrilla fighters were killed across the region, with Fuqing and Putian suffering the heaviest losses. Base villages in Putian, including Beigao, Pearl River, Xiting, Xian, and Changtai, were subjected to repeated raids, with local residents paying a heavy price and suffering incalculable property losses.

The former site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit is a Lin family ancestral hall, a single-story structure made of earth and wood, covering an area of more than 1,000 square meters. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the local Party committee and government established a memorial room in the Pearl River Lin Ancestral Hall. In 1992, the Pearl River Revolutionary Martyrs Pavilion was built, and in 2010, the memorial room was renovated.

The former site of the Pearl River Squadron of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Unit was designated as a cultural heritage site of Putian County by the Putian County People’s Government in December 1997, recognized as a patriotic education base of Putian City by the CPC Putian Municipal Committee and Putian Municipal People’s Government in July 2000, designated as a Party history education base of Putian City by the CPC Putian Municipal Committee Party History Research Office in June 2010, and recognized as a Party history education base of Fujian Province by the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee Party History Research Office in November 2012.

Source: CPC Putian Municipal Committee Party History Research Office

Pearl River Village: 1. General Overview

The village is located in the northwest of Dongqiao Town, Xiuyu District. It borders Dongqiao Village to the east, Zhuchuan Village and Dongxing Village to the west, the national-level wood processing zone of Xiuyu District to the south, and Xianfeng Village to the north. The village committee is based in Pearl River Natural Village and administers 10 natural villages: Licuo, Guodai, Houpu, Xiyu, Kongcuo, Gongdou, Gongqian, Dingshan, Xiashan, and Weishan. There are 12 villager groups, with a total of 868 households and a population of 4,588. Major surnames include Lin, Yu, Tang, and Wu, with the Lin surname being the most common.

2. Economic Development

The village has 150 mu of arable land... More detailed information about Pearl River Village++