Site of the Red Army's Grain-Carrying Resting Spot (Under the Lotus Tree at Huangyangjie)

Site of the Red Army's Grain-Carrying Resting Spot (Under the Lotus Tree at Huangyangjie)

The original path on Huangyangjie was called Wuli Hengpai, which passed under this lotus tree. In the winter of 1928, Comrades Mao Zedong and Zhu De, along with soldiers and civilians of Jinggangshan, often rested under this tree while carrying grain up the mountain.

At that time, apart from the regular Red Army forces, there were also over 800 wounded and sick personnel on Jinggangshan, as well as staff from party, government, and military logistics organs. A large amount of grain was needed daily. But the mountain had “a population of less than 2,000 and grain production of less than 10,000 dan, with all military provisions relying on supplies from Ninggang, Yongxin, and Suichuan counties.” To crush the enemy’s military attacks and economic blockades, it was essential to stockpile sufficient grain.

Huangyangjie is surrounded by towering mountains and rugged paths, making transportation extremely difficult. Transporting grain up the mountain from below was an arduous task. In those days, people would go down the mountain early to carry grain and return in the evening, making the round trip between mountain and valley daily. Soldiers and civilians carried loads on their shoulders and backs, and in just over a month, more than 300,000 jin of grain were stockpiled on Jinggangshan.

Although Mao Zedong was busy with military affairs, he insisted on carrying grain together with the soldiers and civilians. One day, after Mao Zedong and the soldiers carried grain from Ninggang up to Huangyangjie and rested under this tree, he asked the soldiers beside him: “Tell me, what can you see standing here?” Some soldiers said, “We can see Jiangxi from here.” Others said, “We can even see Hunan.” Mao continued, “That’s right. As revolutionaries, we must stand high and see far. Standing on Jinggangshan, we must not only see Jiangxi and Hunan, but also all of China and the whole world.” His words inspired confidence among the soldiers and civilians to persist in the struggle on Jinggangshan.

“Zhu De carries grain up the ridge, our food supply is absolutely reliable. Soldiers and civilians unite in effort, to crush the enemy’s encirclement.” At the time, Commander Zhu De, already in his forties and shouldering great responsibilities, still carried grain together with Mao Zedong and the soldiers and civilians. To let him rest, Red Army soldiers took his carrying pole away twice, so Zhu De asked the quartermaster department to make him a third pole, on which he wrote the eight characters: “Zhu De’s Pole — Do Not Take It.” Since then, the story of “Zhu De’s Pole” has been widely celebrated.

On March 4, 1961, the State Council designated the “Lotus Tree at Huangyangjie” as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. On June 30, 1965, Comrade Guo Moruo visited the lotus tree and was moved to write the verse: “A small path for grain, leaders busy at work; Wuli Hengpai leaves behind a mighty oak (lotus) tree.”

Source: China · Jinggangshan Revolutionary Museum