The Soviet Government of Gannan Province

The Soviet Government of Gannan Province

The Soviet Government of Gannan Province is a classic red tourism site.

The Soviet Government of Gannan Province was established in July 1934 and began operating here in August. It was chaired by Zhong Shibin and vice-chaired by Wang Fushan, with working departments including the Department of Internal Affairs, Finance Department, National Economic Department, Land Department, Food Department, Labor Department, Education Department, and Judiciary Department. Its primary mission was to shield and support the central authorities and the main forces of the Red Army in their successful assembly and safe breakout. While the Central Red Army was assembling in Yudu, efforts included grain procurement, Red Army expansion, conscription of laborers, and “scorched earth” preparations. Within just a few months, they gathered 180,000 dan of grain, raised over 44,000 yuan, expanded the Red Army by more than 14,000 people, and also collected large amounts of clothing, straw shoes, and food supplies to support the troops. In early September, Comrade Mao Zedong came to Yudu and resided here. In October, after the main forces of the Red Army broke through and began the Long March, the leadership organs of the Gannan Provincial Soviet Government, the Provincial Party Committee, and the Military District (located in Zai Shu Wu, Yudu County) evacuated from Yudu County and moved to mountainous areas such as Li Village and Xiao Xi in southern Yudu. Surrounded by Guangdong Army forces, they retreated to the Shang Ping mountain area. After implementing a decentralized breakout beginning in March 1935, the Gannan Provincial Soviet Government naturally disbanded. The original site is a brick-and-wood structure with a gable and hip roof, facing south and situated on a north-south axis, with a small front courtyard and a west-facing gate building, covering a total area of 636 square meters.

The former site of the Soviet Government of Gannan Province and the former residence of Comrade Mao Zedong on the eve of the Long March — He Wu in the North Gate area of Yudu County. The house originally belonged to a family surnamed He. It is relatively spacious, with a small courtyard in the front and back, featuring a total of over thirty rooms and covering an area of 636 square meters. In July 1934, in response to revolutionary needs, the Gannan Provincial Party Committee and the Soviet Government were established in Yudu County, with the provincial Soviet organs stationed here. The chairman of the Gannan Provincial Soviet was Zhong Shibin, and the vice-chairman was Wang Fushan. The Soviet Government included departments such as the Department of Internal Affairs, Finance Department, National Economic Department, Land Department, Food Department, Labor Department, Education Department, Workers and Peasants Inspection Department, Judiciary Department, and Political Security Bureau.

This was also the former residence of Comrade Mao Zedong on the eve of the Long March. In early September 1934, Mao Zedong came to Yudu from Yunshi Mountain in Ruijin and stayed in the eastern wing of this house. Although not in the best health during this visit, Mao worked intensively and methodically. He frequently went deep among the masses to conduct research and inspected and guided the work of the Gannan Provincial Soviet Government. In this small hall, he personally presided over symposiums with poor workers and peasants, as well as with district, township, and village cadres, speaking heart-to-heart with the attendees to understand their living and production conditions. He urged Soviet cadres to care about the lives of the people, pay attention to methods of work, diligently study Marxism-Leninism, voluntarily criticize their own shortcomings and mistakes before the masses, and regularly carry out criticism and self-criticism. During his time in Yudu, Mao also investigated enemy movements in Luojiang and Xiao Xi at the request of the then Vice Chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. On September 20, he issued the “Mao Zedong Telegram on Enemy Activities in Xinfeng, Yudu, and Other Areas” from here, which provided an important decision-making basis for the strategic relocation of the Red Army. On October 18, Mao left He Wu and crossed the Yudu River with the Central Column, embarking on the long journey of the Long March.