The Sanqiu Tunnel Warfare Site

The Sanqiu Tunnel Warfare Site

The Sanqiu Tunnel Warfare Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Sanqiu Tunnel Warfare Site is located in Sanqiu Village, Zhangjiazhuang Town, Gaocheng City, and is a key cultural relic protection unit of Gaocheng City. During the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, the brave people of Sanqiu Village used tunnel warfare and landmine tactics to resist the enemy, defend their hometown, and protect the nation, writing a moving and heroic history of battle.

In 1942, as the Anti-Japanese War entered its most grueling phase, the situation in Sanqiu Village became extremely severe. The Japanese army implemented the brutal "Three Alls" policy (kill all, burn all, loot all), launching frenzied mopping-up operations in Sanqiu Village and surrounding areas. They also built blockhouses and strongholds in Zhangjiazhuang, Nanmeng, and Zhaozhuang, displaying rampant aggression that brought devastating disasters to the villagers of Sanqiu and nearby areas.

To fiercely strike back against the Japanese invaders’ arrogance, under the guidance of Chairman Mao’s Anti-Japanese War strategy, the courageous people of Sanqiu Village—using their own ingenuity and drawing on the experience of tunnel warfare from other regions—constructed an intricate underground network to trap the enemy. At that time, they dug four main tunnels running east-west and north-south across the village, each four meters deep, 1.6 meters high, and over one meter wide, along with nine branch tunnels connected to the main ones. These interconnected passages linked the entire village and individual homes, forming a defensive system capable of both offense and defense, ambush and counterattack. This inflicted heavy blows on the invaders, repelling wave after wave of Japanese attacks. Tunnel warfare became the primary form of resistance in Sanqiu Village and was maintained all the way until the final victory of the Anti-Japanese War.

In the early stages of the Liberation War, Chiang Kai-shek attempted to seize the fruits of victory from the Chinese people and sought to open the "gateway to the east"—Sanqiu Village—for enemy forces. He ordered puppet troops stationed in Zhaozhuang to attack Sanqiu Village. The brave villagers of Sanqiu, showing no mercy to any invading enemies, continued to creatively employ tunnel warfare and landmine tactics in their struggle, repelling multiple assaults by puppet forces. They defended their hometown and safeguarded the fruits of victory. Throughout the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, under the leadership of the Party, the heroic people of Sanqiu utilized tunnel and landmine warfare to coordinate with local militias, county brigades, and main forces in ambushes and raids on blockhouses. They killed or injured over 400 Japanese and puppet troops, seized numerous war spoils, and were awarded the plaque “The Eastern Gateway Firmly Shut” by the Central Hebei Military District. They also received multiple commendations and were honored with the title “Iron Gate” by the People’s Government of Gaocheng County. After the liberation, representatives of the Sanqiu militia were invited to attend the National Day celebrations and were honored with a personal meeting with the great leader Chairman Mao.

The Sanqiu Tunnel Warfare Site stands as a historical testament to the people of Sanqiu’s courageous fight against the enemy. The original tunnels were destroyed by floods in 1963, and their original state no longer exists. The currently preserved tunnels were excavated in 1972 during wartime preparations, based on the original tunnel locations.

Address: Located in Sanqiu Village, Zhangjiazhuang Town, Gaocheng City

Zhangjiazhuang Town: Zhangjiazhuang Town is situated in the northwest of Gaocheng City, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of the Gaocheng municipal center. It borders Nanmeng Town to the east, the Jiumen Hui Ethnic Township to the south, Zhengding County to the west, and Zengcun Town to the north. It spans the Zhengshen Road and runs along the Airport Road. The town is just 7 kilometers from the Shijiazhuang–Huanghua Expressway and 8 kilometers from National Highway 307 and the Shijiazhuang–Dezhou Railway. With a superior geographical location and convenient transportation, it has a well-developed market trade. The poultry and egg farming industry serves as the town’s pillar sector, maintaining a laying hen population of around 4 million throughout the year. It is the largest poultry and egg distribution hub in northern China. In 2001, the town covered a total land area of 47.4 square kilometers... More details about Zhangjiazhuang Town++