The Former Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Zhushachong

The Former Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Zhushachong

The Former Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Zhushachong is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Zhushachong Outpost is located southeast of Ciping in Jinggangshan, over 600 meters above sea level, and is one of the five major outposts of the Jinggangshan military base area.

The outpost stands amid steep cliffs. Below it lies a deep valley with the murmuring waters of the Zhusha River; above it rise towering peaks, and a winding mountain path passes through the outpost, making it so treacherous that “one man could hold the pass against ten thousand.” Nearby by the roadside is a small cave from which reddish spring water often flows, giving the place its name, Zhushachong (Cinnabar Stream Outpost).

Originally, there was a wooden pavilion on the outpost called the “Guanyin Pavilion.” Inside the pavilion, a shrine was carved into the stone wall, with a statue of Guanyin in the center and a couplet on both sides that read: “This perilous pass is full of dangers; Guanyin protects the road and saves travelers.” After it became a military outpost, the Red Army built fortifications in front of the pavilion as the first line of defense, and three more fortifications about fifteen li away at Fenglongpai as the second line of defense. Both defensive lines were guarded by Wang Zuo’s troops of the Fourth Red Army.

The terrain of Zhushachong Outpost is extremely steep and easy to defend but hard to attack, making it of great military significance. On January 4, 1928, Mao Zedong led the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army out of Zhushachong Outpost and struck directly at the stronghold of Xiao Jiabi, the leader of the Suichuan County Militia, in Dakeng Town. The next day, they captured the county seat of Suichuan. Later, the vicious Xiao Jiabi and Li Shilian led reactionary militias in several attempts to cross Zhushachong Outpost and invade Jinggangshan, but all were repelled by the defending troops.

In September 1988, the People’s Government of Jinggangshan City designated Zhushachong Outpost as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.

Source: China · Jinggangshan Revolutionary Museum

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units