Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and Provincial Committee in Xin County

Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and Provincial Committee in Xin County

The Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and Provincial Committee in Xin County is a classic red tourism destination.

Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and Provincial Committee in Xin County: Xin County, nestled in the undulating heart of the 800-li Dabie Mountains, was originally called Xinzhen and once served as the border area of counties such as Guangshan, Shangcheng, Macheng, Hong’an, and Dawu from both Henan and Hubei provinces. From May 1931 to September 1932, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and Provincial Committee had their offices here, directing and leading the struggle in the revolutionary base. This historical site is located at No. 62 Shoufu Road, in the center of Xin County’s urban area. In 1988, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. A plaque inscribed with “Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch” by Xu Xiangqian in April 1980 hangs above the gate. On the left side of the door is embedded a white marble slab engraved with an explanatory text. Most of the buildings and courtyards remain in their original state, attracting a continuous stream of visitors. On December 10, 1931, the 30th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Fourth Red Army captured Xinzhen. The leadership organs of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Border Region successively moved here and established Xin County. Since then, Xinzhen became the capital of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Revolutionary Base. Within just a few months, 26 county-level Soviet governments were established, the Red Army grew to over 45,000 troops, local peasant militia forces expanded to more than 200,000, and the total population of the base reached over 13 million. In May 1931, the Special Committee of the Central Hubei-Henan-Anhui Border Region was abolished, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch and the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Revolutionary Military Commission were established, headquartered here. Xin County became the political, economic, cultural, and military center of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Revolutionary Base. The Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch in Xin County is located in the county town and is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The original building was the residence of a wealthy landlord surnamed Liu in Xinzhen. It consisted of five courtyards in a row, seven traditional-style buildings, totaling over 60 rooms. A long corridor connected the middle section, with neat yards on both sides. The buildings featured bright windows, wide eaves, and grand architecture. Though some damage and alterations occurred before and after liberation, the site has been recently renovated. A plaque inscribed with “Former Site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch,” written in April 1980 by Comrade Xu Xiangqian who fought and lived here for a long time, hangs on the gate, giving the site a particularly majestic appearance. On May 12, 1931, to accommodate the expansion of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet movement and the growth of the Red Army, a decision was made under central instructions to establish the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Hubei-Henan-Anhui Branch in Xinzhen. The branch had 11 members, including eight appointed by the Central Committee—Zhang Guotao, Chen Changhao, Shen Zemin, Zeng Zhongsheng, Wang Pingzhang, Cai Shengxi, Shu Chuanxian, and Kuang Jixun—plus three additional members elected later: Zhou Chuangquan, Guo Shushen, and Gao Jingting, with 15 alternate members including Gan Yuanjing. The branch acted as both the Central Committee’s representative body and the highest leadership organization of the Party in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui region. However, it only held meetings and did not manage daily operations, which were handled by the Provincial Committee of the Border Region.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Henan Provincial Committee