Former Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, Revolutionary Committee, and Military District (Longjia Mansion)

Former Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, Revolutionary Committee, and Military District (Longjia Mansion)

The former site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, Revolutionary Committee, and Military District (Longjia Mansion) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism attraction, and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, Revolutionary Committee, and Military District (Longjia Mansion) is located in Longjiawan, Ciyacun Village, Ciyan Township, Longshan County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture.

On May 6, 1935, to implement the decisions of the Xinglong Conference, the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, the Provincial Military District, the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, as well as the ordnance factory, hospital, supply department, Red Army school, and other directly affiliated institutions, were all relocated to Ciyan Township, Longshan County. With Ciyan Township as its capital, the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base stepped onto the historical stage.

During the period when Ciyan Township served as the revolutionary center, leaders such as He Long and Ren Bishi directed numerous influential battles here, including the famous Zhongbao Victory, Shoushan Encirclement Battle, Zhao Touzhai Campaign, Banliyuan Victory, Bajiaotuo Victory, and Ciyan Defense Battle, among hundreds of others. Notably, the Ciyan Conference held at Longjia Mansion on May 9–10, 1935, charted the direction for the revolutionary struggle in the base area. The conference primarily achieved three things: first, it implemented the directives of the Zunyi Conference among all officers and soldiers; second, it formulated policies and guidelines for the Red Army’s rest and expansion, and for establishing local party, government, and mass organizations; third, in accordance with the Central Committee’s directive to “actively defend, strive for victory in decisive battles, and secure success within the original region,” it established three strategic principles: (1) temporarily refrain from crossing the Yangtze River, continue striving for victory in the original region, with the Provincial Committee based in Ciyan Township; (2) adopt a defensive stance against the stronger Hunan forces and an offensive approach against the weaker Hubei forces; (3) launch surprise attacks against the Hubei forces, seize the initiative in the anti-encirclement campaigns. Guided by the spirit of the Ciyan Conference, the activities of the Second and Sixth Red Armies extended across 21 counties and cities in the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou border region, involving a population of 2 million in the Soviet areas. The Red Army expanded to six divisions, 17 regiments, and over 20,000 troops. The revolution in the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Base Area reached its zenith, attracting and pinning down significant Nationalist forces from the four provinces, effectively supporting and coordinating with the strategic relocation of the Central Red Army.

On November 4, 1935, the Provincial Committee and the Military Commission held a meeting in Liangjiaping, Sangzhi, attended by officers at the division level and above, deciding on the main force’s relocation while leaving the 18th Red Army Division to cover the breakout. On December 8, the 18th Division completed its covering mission and began its breakout from Ciyan Township.

Longjia Mansion was originally built during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. It features a traditional three-courtyard layout, with a wooden post-and-lintel structure. The main building is flanked by two wings, situated northwest and facing southeast, forming a concave shape. The structure, made of earth and wood, comprises 13 large rooms and 32 smaller ones, with side rooms on the west and a stilted house on the east. The building covers a construction area of 790 square meters and a site area of 1,240 square meters. Its architectural decoration and interior layout are typical of traditional Tujia ethnic dwellings in western Hunan. The site is currently well-preserved.

The former site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Provincial Committee, Revolutionary Committee, and Military District (Longjia Mansion) in Longshan County was designated as a Hunan Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Hunan Province in January 1996, and as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council in May 2006. It was recognized as a Hunan Provincial Patriotic Education Base by the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee in January 1995, and as a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee in June 2001.

Ciyan Township: Located in the northeastern part of Longshan County, Ciyan Township is 21 kilometers from the county seat and 10 kilometers from National Highway 209, with the Sanglong Highway passing through it. The township covers a total area of 140 square kilometers, comprising 20 administrative villages, 1 community neighborhood committee, and 189 villager groups, with a total population of 20,468, including 19,446 agricultural residents and 1,022 non-agricultural residents.

The average elevation of the town area is 850 meters, enjoying ample sunlight and abundant rainfall. The soil is mostly acidic and alkaline, making it highly suitable for growing tobacco, medicinal herbs, and off-season vegetables. Currently, the township cultivates 140... More details about Ciyan Township++