Former Site of the Battle for the Liberation of Fuqing

Former Site of the Battle for the Liberation of Fuqing

The former site of the battle for the liberation of Fuqing mainly includes Ruiyun Pagoda and Liqiao Bridge. Ruiyun Pagoda is located on the north bank of Liqiao in Rongcheng Town, Fuqing City, Fujian Province, while Liqiao Bridge is situated in Longshan Subdistrict, Fuqing City, Fujian Province.

In 1930, the Fuqing branch of the Chinese Communist Party (and League) was established, and a branch meeting was held at Ruiyun Pagoda to discuss recruiting progressive-minded youth into the organization. Party and League members also held secret meetings inside the pagoda. It became a base for revolutionary activities.

In mid-August 1949, the 85th and 86th Divisions of the 29th Army of the People’s Liberation Army arrived in Honglu, Fuqing on August 15 and repelled the Kuomintang defenders there. At dawn on August 16, they launched an attack on the Kuomintang positions. The Kuomintang troops put up fierce resistance from their elevated positions on Wuma Mountain and Ruiyun Pagoda. The battle was extremely intense. Zhang Ruizhi, deputy platoon leader of the 4th Company, led his squad in a fight with the Kuomintang forces for control of the hill, battling for three hours before capturing Wuma Mountain. At 6 a.m. the next morning, Company 2 Commander Sha Feilong led a squad under machine gun cover to charge onto Liqiao Bridge. Enemy forces on Ruiyun Pagoda fired machine guns wildly, and over 30 brave soldiers including Company Commander Sha and Platoon Leader Li Binghu sacrificed their lives. Their blood stained the ancient Longjiang Bridge red.

Ruiyun Pagoda was first built in the 34th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1606), stands 34.6 meters tall, and is constructed of granite in a seven-story, eight-sided design. Liqiao Bridge was built in the 5th year of the Tian Sheng reign during the Song Dynasty (1027), originally called Longshou Bridge, and spanned both sides of the Longjiang River. In 1606, the bridge was relocated and Ruiyun Pagoda was built nearby. The bridge is 183.3 meters long and 5 meters wide, with a stone slab surface. It underwent two rounds of maintenance and reinforcement in 1958 and 1980.

Ruiyun Pagoda was designated as a Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Fujian Province in May 1961, and Liqiao Bridge was designated as a Fuqing County Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the Fuqing County People’s Government in November 1987.

(Source: “Overview of Revolutionary Sites in Fujian Province · Fuzhou”)

Longshan Subdistrict: Officially established on December 30, 2006, Longshan Subdistrict was named after the “Longshan Park” within its jurisdiction. The establishment of Longshan Subdistrict is a result of the rapid urban economic development of Fuqing City, a response to the growing standardization of community development in Fuqing, and an effective measure to deepen the strategy of transforming villages into urban neighborhoods, optimize resource allocation, and alleviate conflicts between population and land use. The establishment of the subdistrict office will play a significant role in advancing Fuqing’s urbanization process and accelerating the building of a moderately prosperous society. The subdistrict covers an area of 34 square kilometers, extending east to Mile Rock in Haikou Town, south to the northern bank of the Longjiang River, … More details about Longshan Subdistrict ++