Former Site of the Ruijin Central Red Army Arsenal Branch Factory

Former Site of the Ruijin Central Red Army Arsenal Branch Factory

The former site of the Central Red Army Arsenal Main Factory was originally located in Zhuyuan Village, Gangmian Township, Ruijin City, Jiangxi Province. It was the “Yongmao Ancestral Hall,” which has a history of over 170 years. Facing east and situated west, the structure is built with brick and wood, features a flush gable roof, two halls and one courtyard, and covers an area of 1,161.21 square meters.

The Central Arsenal, also known as the Arsenal of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission or the Central Red Army Arsenal, was founded in October 1931 by the Central Revolutionary Military Commission of the Chinese Soviet Republic in Guantian Village, Xinglian Township, Xingguo County — becoming the first large-scale arsenal of our army. By the end of 1933, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission ordered a strategic contraction of the front lines, relocating the Guantian Arsenal, Yinjing Ammunition Factory, and Sai’er Miscellaneous Armament Factory to Ruijin successively, eventually concentrating them in Gangmian to form the largest arsenal in the Central Soviet Area. Led by factory director Wu Hanjie, political commissar Zhang Jian, and party branch secretary Li Shisheng, it included a department and an ammunition division, on the basis of which a miscellaneous armament factory and an ammunition factory were also established.

In October 1934, the Central Arsenal began the Long March with the Central Red Army, leaving the Central Soviet Area. The Central Red Army Arsenal Main Factory strongly supported frontline combat and the needs of the army’s relocation, making significant contributions to the consolidation and development of the revolutionary base areas.

The relocated site of the Central Red Army Arsenal Main Factory is situated southwest of the former site of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission in Jinlong Village, Shazhoubazhen, Ruijin City, covering an area of 8 mu. It replicates the original arsenal headquarters at a 1:1 scale, preserving the original architectural style featuring two halls, one courtyard, and four main rooms, with a total construction area of approximately 2,428 square meters. The project adhered to the principles of “rooted in history, restoring the original appearance, prioritizing relocation with restoration as support, maintaining moderate scale, and practicing strict economy.” Salvage repairs were carried out on historically significant parts of the original site, with some historical artifacts displayed or replicated, effectively restoring the historical ambiance.

Source: Publicity Department of the Ruijin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units