Xinyang Red Army Bridge

Xinyang Red Army Bridge

The Xinyang Red Army Bridge is a Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

Red Army Bridge — Located in Xindian Village, Wulidian Township, about 17 kilometers southeast of downtown Xinyang

In Xindian Village, there is an aqueduct bridge built during the War of Resistance Against Japan by the command of the Xin (Yang) Luo (Shan) Border County Committee under the New Fourth Army’s 5th Division. It was intended for both irrigation and pedestrian use. The bridge is 107 meters long and 2.6 meters high, built entirely from stone slabs, and is locally referred to as the “Red Army Bridge.”

The New Fourth Army’s 5th Division, formed during the War of Resistance, was primarily active in southern Henan, central Hubei, and northeastern Hubei, where it established the Henan-Hubei Border Region Government. To break the military encirclement and economic blockade imposed by enemy and puppet forces, the border government decided to develop water conservancy projects and boost local production in this region. At that time, areas around Xindian and Hao’tang were backed by the Dabie Mountains to the south and bordered plains and lakes to the north. Due to poor water management, they often suffered from floods and droughts, severely impacting the livelihood of local residents. To alleviate these hardships, in the winter of 1941, officers and soldiers of the Xinluo Border Government led villagers in digging trenches and transporting stones despite the bitter cold. In less than a year, they completed an irrigation channel approximately 800 meters long. Since then, mountain water has flowed through the channel into the plains, benefiting over 1,500 acres of rice paddies and contributing to the resistance efforts in the border region. This “Red Army Bridge” is part of that water infrastructure system and is still in use today.

The Red Army Bridge stands as a historical testament to the close ties between our Party, our Army, and the people, as well as our dedication to improving their well-being. The construction and use of the Red Army Bridge not only contributed to the economic development of the border region at the time and helped break the enemy's economic blockade, but more importantly, it built a heartfelt bridge of unity between the Party and the people. It has now become a base for revolutionary tradition education and patriotic education in the area, playing a positive role in promoting the development of both material and spiritual civilization.

In September 2000, it was designated as part of the third batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the Provincial Level by the Henan Provincial People’s Government.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units