Former Site of the San'ai Guerrilla Unit of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column

Former Site of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column’s San'ai Guerrilla Unit

The Phoenix Temple, the former site of the San'ai Guerrilla Unit of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column, is located in Yangtou Village, Tong'an Town, Yongtai County.

In 1947, in accordance with directives from the Provincial Committee and to support the overall armed struggle, the Central Fujian Party organization mobilized the masses extensively. They launched struggles against conscription, taxation, and "25% rent reduction," and organized guerrilla units widely to carry out armed resistance behind enemy lines. By the end of 1948, the San'ai Guerrilla Unit was established at the Phoenix Temple in Tong'an, Yongtai, with Bao Xiuchao as its captain, under the leadership of the headquarters of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column.

Here, the San'ai Guerrilla Unit engaged deeply with the masses, promoting the Party’s policies and encouraging them to fight for rent reduction and against local tyrants. At the same time, through flexible guerrilla tactics, they confiscated weapons from landlords and expanded their ranks to over 50 members. To eliminate the self-defense force and local militia cultivated by Li Senwu, the last county magistrate of Yongtai under the Kuomintang, Bao Xiuchao led guerrilla fighters to incite a rebellion among the militia member Bao Jinchai of the San'ai Township Office, and successfully captured the office. In July 1949, Rao Yunshan sent people to establish a township people's government in San'ai, with Bao Xiuchao serving as its chairman.

The San'ai Guerrilla Unit and the township people's government opened granaries here to distribute grain and provide relief to the people. They abolished the baojia system, established eight village committees, posted notices, and launched rent reduction and anti-tyrant struggles across the township. They arrested the local thug and bully Bao Lashan, held a public trial at a mass meeting, and carried out an execution with approval, which was met with applause from the people. To prepare for the arrival of the People’s Liberation Army marching southward, the San'ai Guerrilla Unit actively engaged in support work such as fundraising for military provisions.

The Phoenix Temple got its name because its terrain resembles that of a phoenix. The temple faces south and consists of a main hall along with side structures including the Guanyin Pavilion, Immortal Pavilion, and monks’ quarters. There is a courtyard in the front, walls surrounding the complex, and an entrance on the southeast side. It covers an area of over 3,000 square meters, with a built-up area of 1,125.38 square meters. The main hall is built on a high platform behind the courtyard, featuring a post-and-lintel wooden frame with reduced columns, and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. Ink inscriptions on the ridge beam read “Reconstructed in the second month of the Xinsi year of the Chongzhen era,” indicating its renovation date. The roof has a gentle slope and appears light and airy, resembling a bird in flight. Inside the hall, there are still Ming dynasty stone Buddhist pedestals and two steles from the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty documenting renovations. It is a well-preserved Ming dynasty temple complex. A cement road in front of the Phoenix Temple leads to the Tong'an Town government, approximately 10 kilometers away. The temple was damaged during the Cultural Revolution in 1967 and was fully restored in 1986.

The Phoenix Temple, the former site of the San'ai Guerrilla Unit of the Central Fujian Guerrilla Column, was designated as a Yongtai County Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the Yongtai County People's Government in June 1987, and as a Fujian Province Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the Fujian Provincial People's Government in January 2001.