Former Site of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Banshi)

Former Site of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Banshi)

The Former Site of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Banshi) is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

The Former Site of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Banshi) lies in the Dajian Mountains, known as the “Roof of Central Fujian,” in Shiniu Mountain’s foothills to the southeast of Shuikou Town, Dehua County, at the border village of Kunban between Yongtai and Xianyou. At an altitude of over 900 meters and surrounded by mountains with crisscrossing ravines, this remote village features perilous terrain and extremely harsh living conditions. In March 1944, the headquarters of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and its affiliated armed forces relocated from Qingxi, Yongtai to Banshi Niulao Gully in Kunban Village, establishing a revolutionary base and leading the people of the entire province in the struggle. It is the only remaining provincial committee site in Southern Fujian, boasting a glorious revolutionary history and tradition. As one of Fujian Province’s renowned old revolutionary bases, it once blazed with the fires of revolution and witnessed many heroic and moving chapters in history.

Located at the eastern edge of Dehua, Banshi Village in Shuikou Town borders Yongchun, Xianyou, and Youxi. It was once the site of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. In the autumn of 1943, as the diehard faction of the Kuomintang intensified its attacks on Northern Fujian, the Provincial Committee’s operations in that region became extremely difficult. To break the deadlock and overcome adversity, following the Party Central Committee’s directive on “concealment and consolidation,” the Provincial Committee made the strategic decision to relocate southward to Central Fujian. By the end of that year, the Provincial Committee had moved to Qingxi Village in Yongtai. In March of the following year, the Provincial Committee and the Minzhong Special Committee successively relocated from Qingxi, Yongtai to Niulao Gully in Banshi, Dehua. In May, the main forces of the Provincial Committee joined the earlier-arrived armed units in Banshi, successfully completing the major mission of relocating the Provincial Committee southward. Banshi then became the command center for the Provincial Committee’s leadership in the anti-Japanese and anti-diehard struggles.

During the most arduous years of the Chinese Communist revolution, the people of Banshi spared no effort, overcoming numerous challenges and even making personal sacrifices to join the fight against Japan and the diehards. They actively provided food and vegetables to the Provincial Committee and maintained strict secrecy, ensuring the safety and livelihood of the Committee members and guerrilla fighters. Their invaluable contributions enabled the Provincial Committee to operate in Banshi for nearly four months without suffering any casualties.

In 1943, as the diehard faction of the Kuomintang launched large-scale “encirclement and suppression” campaigns against revolutionary bases, the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China moved from Northern to Central Fujian to preserve strength. In December of the same year, Lin Dafan, Secretary of the Minzhong Working Committee, and over 20 guerrillas arrived in Mao Cuo and Banshi. Between late January and February 1944, the Provincial Committee and guerrilla forces gradually moved to Banshi. On Niu’lao Keng’s Kungou Mountain in Banshi, 18 bamboo sheds were erected and two drill grounds were established. After relocating to Banshi, the Provincial Committee set up several strongholds in areas such as Da Xi in Dehua, Yong Yan, and Badu in Nan’an, connecting revolutionary bases in Northern Fujian, Northeastern Fujian, Fuzhou, Yongtai, Datian, and regions in Central Fujian including Putian-Xianyou and Jin-Nan-Hui. During this period, Banshi Village became a hub of revolutionary activity across the province. The Provincial Committee held meetings here, conducted rectification study sessions, and founded the publication “The Indomitable Struggler.” The counterfeit currency seized during the guerrilla raid on the Hangkong Bank in Hanjiang, Putian County was also brought to Banshi, where the Provincial Committee distributed it to underground party organizations in Northern Fujian, Northeastern Fujian, and Fuzhou. Additionally, radio contact with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was established here once. The Provincial Committee also organized the villagers of Mao Cuo and Banshi to resist conscription and taxes. The Provincial Committee stayed in Banshi for four months before relocating to Donghu, Xianyou in three batches in June 1944.

In July 2002, the Former Site of the Provincial Committee (Banshi) was designated as the third municipal-level patriotic education base in Quanzhou. Construction of the Former Site project began in August 2002 and was completed in June 2003, when it was officially opened to the public. The exhibition hall is located in Banshi, Kunban Village, Shuikou Town, covering an area of 7,000 square meters with a built-up area of 500 square meters. The new monument to the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China stands 3.68 meters tall. In June 2003, it was named a Fujian Provincial Patriotic Education Base. It has since become a revolutionary tradition and patriotic education base that blends green landscapes with red culture, and historical relics with revolutionary artifacts. Since its opening, local residents have provided daily guided tours and voluntary services for visitors. Party organizations at all levels, along with Party members, the general public, and students, have visited the exhibition hall to honor the martyrs, learn about revolutionary traditions, and receive patriotic education.