Heroic Sluice Gate

Heroic Sluice Gate

The Heroic Sluice Gate is a cultural relic protection unit of Dengzhou City.

The Heroic Sluice Gate was a major obstacle breached by the 28th Brigade and the Third Sub-district of the Tongbai Military Region during the campaign to liberate Deng County (now Dengzhou) on January 9, 1948. It stands 90 centimeters high and 80 centimeters wide. On January 9, 1948, the 28th Brigade and forces of the Third Sub-district of the Tongbai Military Region surrounded Deng County and launched the battle to liberate the city. At that time, Deng County had an inner and outer city, both surrounded by moats. The city walls were tall, and the moats were wide and deep. To attack the city and defeat the enemy, it was essential to first destroy the sluice gate and drain the water from the moat. The gate was made of wooden planks six to seven inches thick, flanked by stone blocks, reinforced with compacted earth on the outside and layered sandbags on the inside, making it extremely solid. Additionally, a reinforced company of enemy troops guarded the site. Initially, our forces attempted to dismantle the gate at night, but the enemy repaired it during the day, resulting in minimal progress. To breach the gate and drain the water as quickly as possible, our army decided to use explosives. On the evening of January 13, a demolition team was organized. Under the cover of our artillery fire, the sappers jumped into the icy river, carried the explosives, and approached the base of the gate. The mission was successfully accomplished in one decisive blast, causing the water to surge out. This cleared a significant obstacle for the assault on the city and led to the liberation of Deng County. After the liberation, the gate was named the “Heroic Sluice Gate,” and a memorial stele was erected for preservation.

The Heroic Sluice Gate is located at the northeastern edge of the urban area. National Highway 207 and the Jiaozhi Railway pass nearby, providing convenient transportation. It lies at the center of the large triangle formed by Wuhan, Xi'an, and Zhengzhou, and the smaller triangle formed by Nanyang, Xiangfan, and Shiyan. It is 50 kilometers east of Wulonggang in Nanyang, where Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms farmed, 60 kilometers south of Longzhong in Xiangfan, 150 kilometers west of the Danjiangkou Reservoir—the largest artificial lake in Asia, 40 kilometers from the headworks of the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, 150 kilometers southwest of the Wudang Mountains, a sacred Taoist site, 300 kilometers northwest of the historic city of Xi'an, and 200 kilometers north of the renowned Buddhist Shaolin Temple on Mount Song. Additionally, it forms a less-than-five-kilometer tourist loop with the Dengzhou Lei Feng Regiment Exhibition Hall, Fusheng Temple Pagoda, Xuan Sheng Temple Scenic Area, and Huazhou Academy.

The Heroic Sluice Gate is well-preserved, designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit of Dengzhou City, and marked with a protective monument. A dedicated cultural relics conservation officer is assigned to oversee and maintain the site.