Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Tongmuling

Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Tongmuling

The Site of the Red Army Outpost Fortifications at Tongmuling is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province and a classic red tourism destination.

Because of its rugged terrain, it was once a formidable pass, but now it has become a scenic attraction. The Tongmuling Outpost Fortifications were built at Mayao on Tongmuling, standing out like "a crane among chickens," with convenient access for advance and retreat and mutual support on both sides. These fortifications have now been fully restored to their original appearance, along with the construction of a memorial pavilion and a poetry stele inscribed with poems by Comrade Mao Zedong.

There were five major outposts on Jinggang Mountain, located around Ciping. The mountains are steep and the valleys deep, making the terrain extremely treacherous. They served as five key routes to Jinggang Mountain: Huangyangjie Outpost to the north, Bamianshan Outpost to the south, Shuangmashi Outpost to the southwest, Zhushachong Outpost to the southeast, and Tongmuling Outpost to the east and west. Amid the abysses of these outposts, one can see eagles soaring halfway up the mountains—a truly magnificent sight.

Among the five major outposts, Shuangmashi Outpost stands at an elevation of 1,286 meters. It earned its name because there are two large rocks stacked on top of each other at the summit, resembling two galloping horses. The surrounding forests are home to many wild peach trees, whose blossoms bloom as late as the fourth lunar month. Tongmuling Outpost is at an elevation of 860 meters, surrounded by a forest of tung trees, which bloom in profusion across the mountains every year when the tung flowers are in season. Zhushachong Outpost forms a north-south standoff with Huangyangjie, and a stream of reddish water flows down its cliffs, from which it gets its name. All five major outposts are now listed as national key cultural relic protection units and are open to the public.

Among the five major outposts, Shuangmashi Outpost stands at an elevation of 1,286 meters. It earned its name because there are two large rocks stacked on top of each other at the summit, resembling two galloping horses. The surrounding forests are home to many wild peach trees, whose blossoms bloom as late as the fourth lunar month. Tongmuling Outpost is at an elevation of 860 meters, surrounded by a forest of tung trees, which bloom in profusion across the mountains every year when the tung flowers are in season. Zhushachong Outpost forms a north-south standoff with Huangyangjie, and a stream of reddish water flows down its cliffs, from which it gets its name. All five major outposts are now listed as national key cultural relic protection units and are open to the public.

Tongmuling Outpost is located on the eastern side of Jinggang Mountain, 4 kilometers from Ciping, at an elevation of 866 meters. It is one of the famous five major outposts of Jinggang Mountain. A road now leads to the site. The terrain of Tongmuling features a significant relative elevation difference compared to the surrounding areas, making it stand tall and majestic, presenting a posture of "a crane among chickens." In the past, a stone-paved path wound around the deep valleys and cliffs, serving as a vital route connecting Jinggang Mountain to Yongxin. The area is named after the tung trees that grow densely across the mountains.

The Tongmuling Outpost was built in April 1928. It included one main outpost and three branch outposts. The outer perimeter of the fortifications was equipped with bamboo spike positions, primarily to prevent enemy attacks from the direction of Jiangxi. At the time, a folk song described the outpost: “Lofty mountains and ridges stand closely linked, Tongmuling’s peak is sharp and steep. The Red Army guards the mountaintop outpost, as solid and firm as an iron fortress. From the north (referring to the Nashan area at the foot of the mountain), one ascends to Tongmuyao, where the outpost is well-built. With a sheer drop of twenty-six hundred steps, it leaves the White bandits nowhere to flee.”

In May 1928, the Fourth Red Army established an outpost here. The outpost primarily controlled the mountain paths through which enemies from Taihe and Yongxin attempted to enter Jinggang Mountain. The fortifications were set up at Mayao on Tongmuling, standing out like “a crane among chickens,” with convenient access for advance and retreat and mutual support. Tongmuling served as the main fortification, supplemented by three additional checkpoints. The first checkpoint was located 0.5 kilometers ahead of the main fortification at Fengyuting, guarding the path to Yongxin and Taihe. The second checkpoint was situated 3 kilometers west of the outpost at Shiji, guarding the path to Ninggang (now Longshi). The third checkpoint was positioned 3 kilometers east of the outpost at Lipingshuduo, guarding the path to Suichuan. A folk rhyme from the time praised the outpost: “Lofty mountains and ridges stand closely linked, Tongmuling’s peak is sharp and steep. The Red Army builds its outpost atop the mountain, as solid as a towering peak. From Nashan up to Tongmuling, the outpost is strongly built. With a sheer drop of twenty-six hundred steps, it ensures the enemy has no escape.”

In January 1929, when the Hunan-Jiangxi enemy forces launched the third “encirclement and suppression” campaign against Jinggang Mountain, the Eighth and Ninth Battalions of the Fifth Red Army repelled attacks by three enemy regiments, ensuring the outpost remained under Red Army control. After liberation, the local government carried out comprehensive restoration of the outpost fortifications, built a memorial pavilion, and constructed a simple road, allowing visitors to ascend and reach the site of the main outpost.

Address: Within the Tongmuling Scenic Area, Jinggang Mountain Scenic Spot, Jinggangshan City, Ji’an, Jiangxi Province

Type: Military

Recommended visiting time: 30–50 minutes

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Jinggang Mountain Scenic Area ticket.

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangxi Province