Former Residence of Wen Lizheng

Former Residence of Wen Lizheng

The former residence of Wen Lizheng is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province, a classic red tourism attraction, and a base for patriotic education.

The former residence of Wen Lizheng is located in Miaowan Group, Tianzhu Village, Donghu Town, Hengshan County, Hengyang City.

Wen Lizheng, originally named Lizheng with the courtesy name Guoqiu, was a native of Tianzhu Village, Donghu Town, Hengshan County. He was born in April 1911. In July 1934, he was admitted to Fu Jen Catholic University in Beiping. The following year, he actively participated in the December 9th Movement, an anti-Japanese patriotic demonstration, and bravely fought against reactionary forces. In October 1937, he went to northern Shandong to engage in anti-Japanese salvation propaganda work.

In March 1938, he joined the Communist Party of China, introduced by Li Rui and Xie Wenyao. He successively served as Deputy Director of the Training Department of the People's Self-Defense Militia of Southern Shandong, Deputy Director of the Political Department of the Canal Detachment of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department of the Southern Shandong Military Region, Acting Political Commissar of the Independent Detachment of the Southern Shandong Military Region and Political Commissar of the Railway Guerrilla Unit, as well as member of the Propaganda Department of the Second Prefectural Committee of the CPC in Southern Shandong. While serving as political commissar of the Railway Guerrilla Unit, he wore a tattered felt hat, an old cotton-padded coat, straw shoes, and carried two pistols. He led his troops along the main line of the Tianjin-Pukou Railway and the Zaozhuang-Lincheng branch line, employing flexible guerrilla tactics. They took the initiative to strike, boarding moving trains, derailing tracks, bombing trains, raiding foreign firms, destroying bridges, and seizing machine guns, which terrified the Japanese army, leaving them in constant fear.

In the early hours of February 22, 1945, while carrying out work in Dingjiatang Village, Liuxiang District, Lincheng County (now Teng County), Shandong, Wen Lizheng gave a party class but was betrayed by a traitor and attacked by Japanese puppet troops. He died a heroic death at the age of 34. He was buried on the spot in a burial mound west of Dingjiatang Village, Xigang Town, Lincheng County (now Teng County). After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, his remains were moved to the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Linyi, Shandong. The cemetery now houses the Wen Lizheng Memorial Pavilion and the tomb of martyr Wen Lizheng. Wen Lizheng was the political commissar of the Railway Guerrilla Unit. The full-length novel and film “Railway Guerrillas” were based on his combat experiences, with the character of political commissar Li Zheng in the story modeled after him—“Li Zheng” being a homophone of “Li Zheng (立正).” Wen Lizheng was recognized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee as one of China’s 100 Anti-Japanese Heroes.

The former residence of Wen Lizheng faces south and is backed by Tianzhu Peak. It sits along a village-level road, flanked by residential houses. An ancient camphor tree with sprawling branches provides ample shade, adding charm to the site. Three original rooms remain, and the original gate is also well-preserved. However, due to years of neglect, the structure has become dilapidated and is now considered dangerous.

In January 2011, the former residence of Wen Lizheng was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Hunan Province; in April 2012, it was recognized as a Hengyang Municipal Patriotic Education Base by the Hengyang Municipal Committee Propaganda Department.

Tianzhu Village: Tianzhu Village…… More details about Tianzhu Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hunan Province