Site of the Former Headquarters of the Red Third Army in Zhizhiping

Site of the Former Headquarters of the Red Third Army in Zhizhiping

The Site of the Former Headquarters of the Red Third Army in Zhizhiping is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province and a classic red tourism attraction.

Site of the Former Headquarters of the Red Third Army in Zhizhiping

It is located in Zhizhiping Village, Yuxiakou Town, Changyang Tujia Autonomous County. In late February 1931, the Second Red Army Corps decided to gather the Second and Sixth Armies, totaling over ten thousand troops, for training and reorganization in the Zhizhiping area. In late March, according to directives from the Central Committee, the Second Red Army Corps was reorganized into the Red Third Army, with He Long appointed as army commander and Deng Zhongxia as political commissar. The site is a Qing Dynasty-era building constructed of brick and wood, covering an area of 324 square meters. It features three bays in width and depth, with a front entrance hall, a rear main hall, and a central courtyard in between. Wing rooms flank both sides, and the structure has a flush-gable roof covered with clay tiles, laid out symmetrically. The Red Third Army born out of the reorganization in Zhizhiping was not only the main force of the Hunan-Hubei-Western Hubei Revolutionary Base, but also formed the foundation of the Second Front Army of the Red Army during the later stages of the Agrarian Revolutionary War. It holds significant historical importance in the development history of the People’s Liberation Army, and this site serves as crucial physical evidence for studying the formation process of the Red Third Army.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units