Former Site of the Handan Uprising Command Headquarters

Former Site of the Handan Uprising Command Headquarters

The Former Site of the Handan Uprising Command Headquarters is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province and a classic red tourism destination.

Former Site of the Handan Uprising Command Headquarters

The Former Site of the Handan Uprising Command Headquarters is located in Matou Town, Handan City. In 1945, during the Battle of Handan, Gao Shuxun, Deputy Commander of the 11th War Zone, moved the command post to Matou Town and announced an uprising in opposition to the civil war and in support of peace and democracy. It was also the secret place where Gao Shuxun discussed the uprising with the underground Party organization. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

From October 23 to November 2, 1945, under the instructions of Chairman Mao Zedong, the Central Bureau of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Area, personally commanded by - and -, successfully concluded a ten-day defensive battle centered on Matou Town. The battle resulted in the capture of Ma Fawu, Deputy Commander of the 11th War Zone, along with 2,300 soldiers and a large amount of weapons and ammunition. By the afternoon of October 30, with the help of his liaison officer and underground Party member Wang Dingnan, Gao Shuxun led over 13,000 troops from the New 8th Army and the Hebei People's Army to announce an uprising at the command post in Matou Town. This accelerated the end of the battle and laid the foundation for our army’s victory.

The Battle of Handan, also known as the Battle of the Pinghan Railway, was a crucial victory that thwarted Chiang Kai-shek’s scheme to advance northward, launch a full-scale attack on the capital of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Border Region—Handan—and seize control of the Pinghan Railway to transport troops and occupy the northeast. In recognition of this, the Central Committee of the Party highly commended the uprising participants. On October 31, comrades such as - and - personally visited Gao Shuxun in Matou Town to offer their regards. On November 2, Chairman Mao Zedong and Commander-in-Chief - sent a warm congratulatory telegram to General Gao. Following Chairman Mao’s suggestion, the uprising forces were reorganized into the Democratic Construction Army, with Gao Shuxun appointed as Commander-in-Chief and Wang Dingnan as Director of the Political Department. It was also noted: “Matou is very close to Handan, and Handan is a historic city, thus the uprising can be called the Handan Uprising.” On October 30, 1983, Hebei Province solemnly commemorated the 38th anniversary of the Handan Uprising, and comrade - inscribed the words “Handan Uprising Monument” in his own handwriting.

The former site is a traditional courtyard house facing the street, situated north-facing and south-opening. It originally had 21 rooms, covering an area of 254.6 square meters, consisting of five main rooms, three wing rooms on each side, and a two-story front building with five rooms on each floor. Currently, only the lower floor of the front building with five rooms remains. In 1996, ownership was transferred to the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, which is responsible for its maintenance and preservation.

Extended Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province

·The Third Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Hebei Province