Liu Bocheng's Escape Memorial Site

Liu Bocheng's Escape Memorial Site

Liu Bocheng's Escape Memorial Site is a classic red tourism attraction.

Liu Bocheng's Escape Memorial Site is located in Beixiangdian Township, 15 kilometers west of Guangshan County. It commemorates an encounter battle between Commander Liu Bocheng and the enemy during the advance of the Liu-Deng Army into the Dabie Mountains.

Having fought in the Dabie Mountain revolutionary base area for three months, the Liu-Deng Army, following directives from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission to expand the revolutionary base and develop guerrilla warfare, set out on December 13, 1947. Commander Liu Bocheng led the rear command post of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army and the headquarters of the Central Plains Bureau, preparing to cross the Huai River northward and deploy in the western Huai region. While camping near Hexiaozhai in Beixiangdian, Guangshan, they unexpectedly encountered the 11th Reorganized Division—one of Chiang Kai-shek’s five main forces—creating a highly critical situation. Commander Liu promptly ordered the nearby guard company to swiftly seize favorable terrain to block the enemy and cover the retreat of the field army rear command post and the Central Plains Bureau headquarters.

Following Commander Liu’s orders, our guard company quickly occupied Zhangdawan and the unnamed high ground southwest of Wuhuchayang, and the battle soon commenced. Initially, the enemy launched multiple attacks with platoon- to company-sized forces, all of which were repelled by our soldiers, leaving behind piles of enemy corpses. Enraged, the enemy assembled about two battalions and launched a fierce, multi-pronged assault on the guard company’s position. At this critical moment, the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade, stationed nearest to the rear command post, arrived and immediately joined the battle. Smoke filled the air, and the deafening roar of gunfire erupted.

During the intense fighting, the 3rd Battalion fought with particular tenacity. After repelling three consecutive enemy assaults, the enemy, undeterred, advanced under heavy artillery fire, sending companies and even battalions against the 3rd Battalion’s position—all of which were driven back by our indomitable soldiers. At the height of battle, our brave troops, shouting slogans in memory of their fallen comrades, charged down like tigers, engaging the enemy in close combat with bayonets, grenades, shovels, and even stones. Blades flashed, and battle cries shook the heavens. The fierce fighting continued until nightfall on the 14th, when our forces were ordered to strategically withdraw.

The entire Beixiangdian defensive battle, fought to protect the field army headquarters and the Central Plains Bureau, raged from dawn to dusk on the 14th. Within a narrow area of just 10 li, our 4,000 troops stubbornly resisted over 13,000 enemy soldiers from Chiang Kai-shek’s 11th Reorganized Division in repeated assaults. We eliminated more than 3,000 enemies while suffering nearly 1,000 casualties. Throughout this fierce battle, local residents of Beixiangdian and surrounding areas in Guangshan voluntarily joined the fight, braving bullets to transport ammunition and weapons to the front lines and rescue the wounded. They demonstrated the high class consciousness and fearless revolutionary spirit of the people from the old revolutionary base, making an indelible contribution to the victory of the battle and ensuring the safe escape of Commander Liu Bocheng, the field army rear command post, and the Central Plains Bureau headquarters. Liu Bocheng himself vividly described this classic example of a smaller force triumphing over a larger one in his memoirs.

To honor the revolutionary martyrs who gave their lives in this fierce battle, the Guangshan County People’s Government erected the majestic “Wuhuchayang Revolutionary Martyrs Monument” on the original battlefield. This memorial site combines sightseeing, martyr commemoration, and education, serving as an ideal place to promote patriotism among young people and the general public.

Liu Bocheng (1892–1986) was born on December 4, 1892, in Zhaojiachang, Kaixian. Coming from a poor family, he studied diligently from a young age and excelled academically. Influenced by the revolutionary movement, the young Liu Bocheng developed a vision of strengthening the nation and its military to save the people from suffering. In 1911, he joined the student army in response to the Xinhai Revolution. In 1912, he enrolled in the Yijun Academy of the Chongqing Military Government. The following year, he participated in the Sichuan Anti-Yuan (Shikai) Army. In 1914, he joined the Chinese Revolutionary Party led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. During the National Protection War and other campaigns, he served as a company commander, brigade staff officer... Liu Bocheng's detailed information++

Beixiangdian Township: Located in the southwestern part of Guangshan County, 15 kilometers from the county seat, Beixiangdian Township borders Xianshan Subdistrict Office to the east, Zhahe Town and Sunpu Town to the north and northwest, Xianju Township to the west, and is surrounded by Luochen Township and Wenshu Township to the south and southeast. It covers a total area of 78 square kilometers, with a population of 32,836. The township administers 13 villages and 2 community neighborhood committees, 37 Party branches, and 1,026 Party members. There are currently 4 poverty-stricken villages: Caofan Village, Hezhai Village, Liudian Village, and Daiwan Village. Number of registered impoverished households in 2014...

The People’s Government of Beixiangdian Township is located in Beixiangdian... Detailed information on Beixiangdian Township++