Site of the Departure of the Red Sixth Army Corps for the Western Expedition at Hengshi

Site of the Departure of the Red Sixth Army Corps for the Western Expedition at Hengshi

The Site of the Departure of the Red Sixth Army Corps for the Western Expedition at Hengshi is a classic red tourism destination.

Site of the Departure of the Red Sixth Army Corps for the Western Expedition at Hengshi (including Wang Family Ancestral Hall, Red Army Lookout Site, and Red Army Cave)

Hengshi in Xinjiang Township is a small village situated in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Township, Suichuan County. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it has picturesque scenery. A few hours’ walk southwestward leads to Ciping in Jinggangshan. The village features a landscape of alternating basins and hills, with dense forests covering the mountains and flat, fertile fields in the valleys. Due to its proximity to Jinggangshan, this area saw frequent activities by the Red Army. Over seventy years ago, under the leadership of Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen, the Red Sixth Army Corps broke through enemy lines from here and began its western expedition, marking the start of the great 25,000-li Long March.

On August 7, 1934, the 17th and 18th Divisions of the Red Sixth Army Corps, totaling nine regiments and over 9,700 soldiers, set off from Hengshi under the guidance of an independent regiment. They bid farewell to the people of Suhé who had nurtured them for so long, crossed Zhushan’ao, and embarked on their westward journey. The troops traversed mountains and ridges, covering about a hundred li per day. After passing through Wudoujiang, they arrived in Caolin that evening and set out again the next day from Caolin, traveling through Nanjiang, Zu’an, Tanghu, Gaoping, and other areas. They successively broke through four enemy lines. At noon on August 11, the western expedition forces reached Zhaiqianxu in Guidong County, Hunan.

Hengshi Village: Hengshi was formed by merging the former villages of Hengshi, Huangshi, and Jingxi. It is located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Township, bordering Fumin Village to the east, Yaqian Town to the south, Wudoujiang Township to the west, and Jinxī and Dazhuang Villages to the north. It is the largest village in the township. The village has 22 villager groups and a total population of 2,768. It served as the starting point of the Long March of the Red Sixth Army Corps and was also the original site of the Jiangxi Communist Labor University’s Suichuan Branch.

Hengshi Village is the village in our township with the largest forest and farmland area, encompassing about 43,000 mu of forest and 3,978 mu of farmland. Despite its mountainous forests and paddy fields... More detailed information about Hengshi Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units