Former Site of the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment's Base and Activity Center

Former Site of the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment's Base and Activity Center

The former site of the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment's base and activity center, Jiaozhong Temple, is located at the foot of Pingfeng Mountain in Tongguan Village, Wutong Town, Yongtai County.

In 1947, following instructions from the Provincial Committee and to align with the armed struggle across the province, the Yongtai Party organization mobilized the masses extensively to carry out a patriotic guerrilla war. In the winter of 1948, the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment was established at Jiaozhong Temple in Tongguan, Wutong, with over 40 members. The detachment was led by Captain Wen Youxiu and came under the leadership of the Yongtai County Committee. The guerrillas openly operated in villages along the border between Tongguan and Xianyou, seizing five rifles from the Zhongcheng Bao Public Office (i.e., Tongguan Township, which at the time combined three bao into one) as well as six firearms including rifles, handguns, pistols, and Type 38 rifles from landlords in Tongguan, Changhetang, and border areas of Xianyou.

In April 1949, the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment achieved victory in its first attack on Wutong Town. In mid-June, following orders from superiors, Wen Youxiu led guerrilla members to ambush the strategic Kuizhailing Pass alongside guerrillas from the Guyi Detachment of Xianyou County. They intercepted over 2,000 remnants of two Nationalist battalions under Liu Rumin, who were retreating through Wutong and attempting to escape via Tongguan and Guyi. Additionally, more than ten battle-hardened guerrillas were selected to accompany the 4th Squadron of the Central Fujian Column, led by Rao Yunshan and Shi Zhanggan, who were inspecting work in Wutong, to surround Xu Guocai’s forces in Dayang. According to directives from the Central Fujian Work Committee, guerrillas such as Wen Wuimei and Wen Shunmao were assigned to establish a local government in Sangyang Township. At the same time, the Wutong Town People's Government was formed, with Wen Youxiu appointed as the town head. Soon after, Lin Shusen and Chen Mingqiu, leaders of the Wutong Self-Defense Force who had escaped, reorganized the self-defense forces and launched a counterattack against the guerrillas. The guerrillas temporarily withdrew from Wutong Town and retreated to Tongguan.

In early August 1949, the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment, together with the vanguard forces of the 85th Division of the 29th Army of the People's Liberation Army, launched another attack on Wutong Town and successfully liberated the town on August 6.

After the liberation of Wutong Town, the Wutong Guerrilla Detachment was reorganized into the Wutong District Squadron, with Wen Youxiu also serving as squadron leader. The guerrillas shifted their focus to supporting the frontline. They worked day and night to construct two large pontoon bridges over the Wutong Stream (from Wutong to Banzhong Street) and the Xilin Stream (from Xilin to Wutong), each 3 meters wide and over 100 meters long, ensuring the rapid advance of the liberation forces. They raised over 83,000 jin of military grain and a batch of horse feed and firewood, and dispatched 10 guerrillas to serve as guides for the PLA in the liberation of Xiamen.

Jiaozhong Temple was first built in the first year of the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty (1102), originally consisting of nine temples arranged in sequence, collectively known as the Nine-Tiered Temple. The Nine-Tiered Temple covered an area of over 30 acres, once housed more than 200 monks, and also included an attached private school. The temple was rebuilt twice after being burned down during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1958, during the communal canteen period, Jiaozhong Temple was demolished again and reconstructed as the Wutong Democratic Livestock Farm. After the reform and opening-up, villagers donated funds and materials to rebuild Jiaozhong Temple at its original site. It is a single-story, earthen-wood structure with a single row of three Buddha halls, covering an area of 120 square meters. In 2005, a park was constructed on the right and front sides of Jiaozhong Temple through individual donations, covering an area of about 200 square meters, along with the construction of a surrounding wall.

Tongguan Village: Tongguan Village is located in the southwestern part of Wutong Town, facing the beautiful and majestic foothills of Pingfeng Mountain. It is 2.5 kilometers from the town center and 32.5 kilometers from the county seat. To the south, it connects with the border areas of Putian and Xianyou counties, while to the north, it neighbors Xilin Village leading to Provincial Highway 203 toward Songkou and Dehua. It is also traversed by the Meiyu and Xianyou expressways. With the Zuoci Stream to the left and the Qinglong Stream to the right, the waters of both streams converge at Longyan Pool at the entrance of Wutong. To the left stands the Golden Bell Hill and to the right the Fish Drum Hill, encircled like a jade belt, with the dazzling Red Lotus. Five hills shaped like dragons, tigers, leopards, lions, and elephants stand in formation on either side. Looking into the distance, the lower reaches of the Zhangxi River are embraced by mountains, presenting a magnificent view. Before liberation, it was part of Wutong... Tongguan Village detailed information++