Former Site of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region Authorities in Shijiazhai

Former Site of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region Authorities in Shijiazhai

The Former Site of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region Authorities in Shijiazhai is a classic red tourism destination.

Shijiazhai Village is located 20 kilometers northeast of Fuping County. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was the base for the party, government, and military leadership of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region and the Jijin Region (later renamed the Beiyue Region). The rows of cave dwellings spread across the hillsides of Shijiazhai and nearby villages were the former offices of the border region authorities. Stretching 8 li from east to west from Leibao Village to Shijiazhai's Dadonggou, and 6 li from north to south from Hongtushan Village to Xiacao Gully in Shijiazhai, the area within nearly 50 square li encompassed six villages—Shijiazhai, Leibao, Mia'ertai, Jiabei, Huai-shuzhuang, and Hongtushan—where a total of over 400 stone cave dwellings and more than 100 adobe vaulted caves were excavated. In 1983, the People’s Government of Fuping County designated the Shijiazhai Cave Complex as a county-level cultural relics protection unit.

In the autumn of 1943, the Japanese army carried out a three-month "major mopping-up" operation in Fuping County, destroying numerous houses. Amid extreme housing shortages, the leadership of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region, inspired by the Yan’an spirit, took the initiative to dig their own cave dwellings. Local residents also actively participated. Starting in January 1944 and over the course of two months, most of the caves were largely completed. The authorities continued digging even after moving in, persisting until the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Most of the caves were earthen, with a few being stone. They stood over two meters high, were around three meters deep, and featured wooden doors and windows. There were also some adobe vaulted caves that appeared from the outside as rows of bungalows but had arched interiors without any timber.

On the western foothills of Shijiazhai Village, there are eight stone cave dwellings, which served as the headquarters of the Jin-Cha-Ji Sub-bureau. Deputy Secretary Cheng Zihua and the secretary-general resided here. About two li downhill from Shijiazhai Village, in Cao Gully, there are 14 earthen cave dwellings, which were the offices of the Border Region’s Anti-Japanese League. Across from Shijiazhai Village, in the Dadonggou area of Yaizi River East, there are 15 cave dwellings along with a row of simple bungalows, which functioned as the offices of the Border Region Public Security Bureau.

In Jiabei Village’s Dadonggou, there are 20 earthen cave dwellings, which were the offices of the Border Region’s Urban Work Department. In Jiabei Village’s Waibozigou, there are 80 cave dwellings, which served as the headquarters of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Regional Committee. Director Song Shaowen and Deputy Director Zhang Su also lived here. The Border Region Government stayed here for over a year before relocating to Zhangjiakou. It was here that the Border Region’s Heroic Figures Assembly was held from late 1944 to early 1945; in the winter of 1947, the Land Reform and Party Rectification Conference of the Border Region was also convened here, attended by figures such as Peng Zhen, Deng Yingchao, and Nie Rongzhen, all of whom stayed in these caves. Jiabei Village’s Heizishugou served as the kitchen for the Border Regional Committee. Between Heizishugou and Waibozigou, a tunnel-like mountain cave was dug into the ridge, serving both as an air-raid shelter and a passage to the kitchen. In Jiabei Village’s Taipingzhuang, ten simple bungalows were built to serve as the Border Region’s “Grand Auditorium,” the largest structure at the time. In Jiabei Village’s Ershimudi, there are over 30 earthen and stone cave dwellings, which were the offices of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region High Court, where President Wang Peiran also resided.

On the western loess ridge of Mia'ertai Village, there are over 100 earthen cave dwellings, which were the headquarters of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region Command and Political Department. At the time, Nie Rongzhen was in Yan’an, and the Chief of Staff of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region lived here. In Mia'ertai Village’s Dajiaochang, there are 10 cave dwellings, 25 in Hougou, and 6 in Sanmudi—these three locations served as the Border Region’s guesthouses, often hosting international friends. On Mia'ertai Village’s Shangbeitou’an (the mouth of He’eryu Gully), there are over 100 adobe vaulted bungalows in two rows, which were the offices of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region Party School. In the Shanghe’eryu Gully of Mia'ertai Village, in the areas of Dangjiagou and Zoudaogou, there are over 30 cave dwellings where the Border Region Transport Team (also known as the County Muleteer Team) was stationed.

About five li west of Shijiazhai Village lies Leibao Village, where there are over 30 cave dwellings that served as the offices of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily. Editor-in-chief Deng Tuo worked here and edited China’s first edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong. Hongtushan Village has 20 cave dwellings, along with several vaulted bungalows.

In Huai Shuzhuang Village, there are over 20 cave dwellings in Dajiaoshan, and four in Putao’an and Yanggou—these locations were offices of affiliated units of the newspaper.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Within Shijiazhai Township, Fuping County, Baoding City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take a bus from Fuping County bound for Shijiazhai, then follow the village road westward to Yuan Shuai Men upon arrival in Shijiazhai.