Former Site of the Headquarters of the 8th Squadron of the Fuping Coastal Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit

Former Site of the Headquarters of the 8th Squadron of the Fuping Coastal Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit

The former site of the headquarters of the 8th Squadron of the Fuping Coastal Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit is located at the ancestral hall of the Chen family and Jiyang Academy by the Qiantang Stream in Jitou Village, Beixiting, Yangxia Town.

Jitou Village is a revolutionary base village and the hometown of martyr Chen Bingkui. Between April and May 1941, in accordance with the directives of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Minzhong Special Committee, the Fuqing County Committee of the CPC withdrew all cadres and armed personnel who had been concealed within the puppet Peace Salvation Army at sea, and formed three anti-Japanese guerrilla units. The first was the 8th Squadron of the Fuping (Fuqing–Pingtan) Coastal Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit, established and led by Chen Jinlai, a member of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPC, with its headquarters set up in the Chen family ancestral hall. Using this location as their base, the 8th Squadron carried out numerous attacks against Japanese invaders. In July, the guerrilla unit moved to Changle to join the anti-Japanese struggle. Under the leadership of Chen Jinlai, the 8th Squadron killed 42 Japanese officers and soldiers, including Lieutenant Commander Tanaka Shima, in the ambush at Langwei Harbor in Changle – a battle that became widely known across East China as the Battle of Langwei Harbor.

After the victory of the War of Resistance, the ancestral hall once again served as a meeting place for the underground guerrilla forces of the CPC. Leaders of the local Minzhong organizations gathered here to plan joint actions, making significant contributions to the liberation of the Chinese people. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the ancestral hall became a gathering place for the public. It now serves as an activity center for the village’s elderly residents.

In 1995, through voluntary fundraising by villagers, the ancient ancestral hall was restored to its original appearance. The Chen family ancestral hall and Jiyang Academy are located close to the Fuqing Jitou Revolutionary History Memorial Hall, complementing each other and set in a beautiful environment. A wooden plaque inscribed with the words “Enduring Righteous Spirit” hangs in the main hall of the ancestral hall in memory of the three martyrs: Chen Bingkui, Chen Zhenxian, and Chen Jinlai.

The Chen family ancestral hall was originally built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt in 1937; Jiyang Academy is an auxiliary part of the Chen family ancestral hall. The combined floor area of the ancestral hall and academy is 520 square meters, and they are currently well preserved.

(Source: A General Survey of Revolutionary Sites in Fujian Province · Fuzhou Volume)

Jitou Village: Located in the northeastern part of Yangxia Subdistrict, Jitou Village currently has 6 villager groups, with a total of 336 households and a population of 1,237. Under the correct leadership of the higher-level Party committee and government, it has successively been awarded honorary titles such as “Fujian Province Health Village,” “Fuqing City Model Village for Clean and Honest Government,” “Advanced Grassroots Party Organization,” and “Five-Star Party Branch.”

Jitou Village is the earliest revolutionary base village in Fuqing. In January 1934, the Fuqing County Committee was established in Jitou Village, and in April 1941, the 8th Squadron of the Fuping Coastal Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit was formed and stationed there. Across three distinct revolutionary... Jitou Village detailed information++