The War of Resistance Battle Site of the Xifengkou Section of the Great Wall

The War of Resistance Battle Site of the Xifengkou Section of the Great Wall

The War of Resistance Battle Site of the Xifengkou Section of the Great Wall is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Xifengkou section of the Great Wall is located within Kuancheng Manchu Autonomous County, stretching approximately 50 kilometers. It served as a strategic gateway from the Central Plains to northern frontiers and the northeastern borders during the Ming Dynasty. Renowned for its well-preserved, unrestored ancient appearance and historical significance, this section has long attracted attention. Due to its perilous location, this vital pass was a fiercely contested military stronghold throughout history. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Battle of Xifengkou took place here.

Xifengkou was an important military pass along the Great Wall. Eighty years ago, the 29th Army of the Kuomintang launched a surprise night attack on Japanese forces at Xifengkou, achieving their first major victory since the September 18th Incident. This triumph shattered the myth of the Japanese army’s invincibility, demonstrated the valor of Chinese troops wielding broadswords, and inspired the famous wartime song “The March of the Volunteers.”

The Battle of Xifengkou on the Great Wall began on March 9, 1933, and ended on April 13 of the same year. In March 1933, as Japanese invaders advanced toward the Great Wall, putting Beiping (now Beijing) and Tianjin in jeopardy, patriotic generals such as Song Zheyuan, Zhang Zizhong, and Zhao Dengyu led the 29th Army of the National Revolutionary Army. With support from local Communist organizations and anti-Japanese civilians, they engaged in a life-or-death struggle against the Japanese forces. After seven days and nights of bitter fighting, they annihilated 5,000 enemy troops and became renowned for their bravery. The Xifengkou defensive line withstood multiple fierce battles and remained unbreached. Even Japan’s Asahi Shimbun was compelled to admit: “Since the establishment of the imperial army under Emperor Meiji, its honor was completely lost outside Xifengkou, suffering the greatest humiliation in sixty years.”

Current Development

In 2009, the War of Resistance Battle Site of the Xifengkou Section of the Great Wall was designated as a provincial-level patriotic education base. Covering an area of over 60 square kilometers, the site features red tourism resources including the Xifengkou Battle Site, the former headquarters of the Jidong Military District of the CPC at Wangchanggou, and the Panlong Cave wartime hospital ruins. Historical events such as the 29th Army’s resistance efforts at the Great Wall, the village hailed by Li Yunchang as the “anti-Japanese fortress village of Wangchanggou,” and the story of the “red sister-in-law of the deep mountains” all took place here. The cultural landscape of the Xifengkou Battle Site complements the scenic beauty of the Panjiakou Reservoir. It is the only red tourism project on the Great Wall and the nation’s sole red tourism site themed around the Great Wall resistance.

Protected Area: With the summit of Laoboshan Mountain as the center point, the protected zone extends 1,000 meters east and north, 1,800 meters west, and 1,000 meters south.

Construction Control Zone: Extending 50 meters outward from the boundary of the protected area in all directions.

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Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province