Sanwan Reorganization Scenic Area

Sanwan Reorganization Scenic Area

The Sanwan Reorganization Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Known as the "No. 1 Red Tourism Village in China," Sanwan Village is located in the southwest of Yongxin County, surrounded by verdant mountains. In September 1927, after arriving here with the troops of the Autumn Harvest Uprising on the Hunan-Jiangxi border, Mao Zedong reorganized the forces — an event that went down in the annals of Party and military history as the famous "Sanwan Reorganization." Sanwan is a national forest park, a national patriotic education base, and a national classic red tourism destination. It is the birthplace of the concept that "the Party commands the gun" and an important part of the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base.

The Sanwan Scenic Area is located in Sanwan Township, Yongxin County, about 37 kilometers from the county seat. In 1927, after the shocking nationwide Autumn Harvest Uprising suffered setbacks, Comrade Mao Zedong regrouped the remaining forces in Wenjia Town, Hunan, and decided to march toward Jinggangshan in the middle section of the Luoxiao Mountains to establish a rural revolutionary base. From September 29 to October 3, Mao Zedong led the troops of the Autumn Harvest Uprising here to carry out the world-renowned "Sanwan Reorganization." The "Sanwan Reorganization" mainly included three aspects: first, reorganizing the structure by reducing one division to one regiment; second, establishing Party organizations at all levels within the army, placing Party branches at the company level, thereby ensuring the Party's absolute leadership over the military; and third, implementing a democratic system within the army by setting up soldiers' committees at the company level and above, eliminating outdated practices and command styles of the old army, and establishing equality between officers and soldiers as well as transparent financial management.

Nestled among surrounding peaks and boasting beautiful scenery, Sanwan Village is situated at the northern foot of Jiulong Mountain in western Yongxin County. On September 29, 1927, Mao Zedong led the troops of the Autumn Harvest Uprising on the Hunan-Jiangxi border here to carry out the historically significant "Sanwan Reorganization." This marked the beginning of political work in the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, established the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, and laid a solid foundation for building a brand-new people's army organizationally, politically, and ideologically.

On September 9, 1927, Mao Zedong personally led the Autumn Harvest Uprising on the Hunan-Jiangxi border. The uprising involved the former National Government Guard Regiment under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, peasant armies from areas such as Pingjiang, Liuyang, and Liling, and armed workers from Anyuan. After intense fighting, the various uprising forces converged in Wenjia Town, Liuyang, where Mao made the wise decision to advance toward Jinggangshan. After a long and arduous journey through battle and repositioning, the troops arrived at Sanwan Village in Yongxin on September 29.

Sanwan is located in the Jiulong Mountain area of the Hunan-Jiangxi border region, at the junction of four counties — Chaling, Lianhua, Yongxin, and Ninggang. It consists of Chenjia, Zhongjia, Shanglijia, Xialijia, and Sanwan Street, with over 50 households, making it a relatively large village in the mountainous region.

Due to continuous combat and the toll of fatigue, hunger, and disease, the uprising forces had fewer than 1,000 soldiers upon reaching Sanwan. Despite this, they retained their original organizational structure — many units had more officers than soldiers, and more guns than men, which was highly unfavorable for combat. Among the troops, most were tested and battle-hardened Party members, League members, and key figures in the labor and peasant movements. However, there were also a few individuals who were either untransformed intellectuals or former officers, who became pessimistic and wavering in the face of defeat and harsh conditions. Clearly, without changing the situation within the army and strengthening the Party’s leadership over it, it would be not only difficult to adapt to the tough environment but also impossible to accomplish the formidable revolutionary tasks.

Faced with this situation, what should be done? How should the Party lead and build its own army? What kind of army should be built? On the very night he arrived in Sanwan, Mao Zedong convened a meeting of the Front Committee and decided to personally tackle this major issue in the Chinese revolution by reorganizing the army.

The next day, the troops assembled. Everyone saw a tall, burly comrade step out from the crowd, with long hair, wearing plain civilian clothes, leg wrappings, and straw sandals. His amiable manner and optimistic expression instantly enlivened the hushed atmosphere, and the soldiers broke into enthusiastic applause.

Mao Zedong explained the significance of the reorganization to all the comrades in the army and delivered an inspiring speech to counter the pessimism and wavering of a few. He said: “... Comrades, the enemy is only shooting at us from behind — what’s the big deal? ... We’re all born of mothers, and just like them, we have two feet. ... Comrade He Long started out with just two kitchen knives and is now a division commander leading an entire army. We don’t just have two kitchen knives — we have two battalions. How can we not succeed? ... All of you are veterans of the uprising — each of you is worth ten enemies, and ten of you are worth a hundred. With several hundred soldiers like us now, what is there to fear? ... Without setbacks and failures, there can be no success...”

Chairman Mao’s words inspired the troops, and the soldiers nodded repeatedly as they listened. After the meeting, people gathered in small groups to discuss. Some said, “If Chairman Mao isn’t afraid, why should we be?” Others said, “If Comrade He Long could start with just two kitchen knives, why can’t several hundred of us make a go of it?”

The morale of the troops shifted, and confidence in victory grew.

Immediately afterward, the army restructured its organization, reducing one division to one regiment, designated as the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army. For those who were wavering, after extensive ideological work, they were given the option to stay or leave voluntarily — those who left were provided with travel expenses, and it was hoped they would continue the revolution in their hometowns.

Party organizations were quickly established at all levels within the army. Party branches were set up at the company level, with Party groups in squads and platoons. Party representatives were assigned at the company level and above, while Party committees were formed at the battalion and regiment levels. The entire army was unified under the leadership of the Front Committee chaired by Mao Zedong. It was stipulated that all major issues must be discussed and decided by the Party committee, thus giving the army a strong and reliable core of leadership.

During the reorganization, new cadres were appointed. A democratic system was implemented within the army, banning the shooting of deserters, forbidding officers from beating or scolding soldiers, abolishing cumbersome formalities, granting soldiers the freedom to hold meetings and speak out, ensuring equal treatment between officers and men, and establishing soldiers’ committees elected democratically by the rank and file. These committees, under the guidance of Party branches, were responsible for propaganda, organizing the masses, leading soldiers’ recreational activities, and supervising the army’s financial expenditures and food management. The establishment of a democratic system within the army completely swept away the old feudal mercenary military practices, greatly motivating the soldiers.

Through the Sanwan Reorganization, the Party’s absolute leadership over the army was established, ensuring the proletarian character of our forces and transforming them into a reliable tool for executing revolutionary political tasks. On October 3, under Mao Zedong’s leadership, the uprising forces marched toward Jinggangshan with renewed vigor and firm steps, marching toward the rising sun.

Sanwan Village: Located on the border of Hunan and Jiangxi and at the foot of Jinggangshan, Sanwan Village in Sanwan Township is the site of the world-famous "Sanwan Reorganization" and the birthplace of the concept that "the Party commands the gun." The village has been honored as an advanced grassroots Party organization at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, as well as recognized as a China Happy Village and a provincial-level ecological civilization village. Sanwan Village covers a cultivated area of 948 mu, with over 27,800 mu of forest land, and comprises 8 village groups, 272 households, and 1,308 residents. There are 57 registered impoverished households totaling 224 people, of which 26 households and 100 people were lifted out of poverty between 2014 and 2015 (leaving 31 households and 124 people still in poverty... More detailed information on Sanwan Village++)