Former Residence of Martyr Li Bai in Liuyang

Former Residence of Martyr Li Bai in Liuyang

The Former Residence of Martyr Li Bai in Liuyang is a cultural relic protection unit of Liuyang City, a classic red tourism site, and a patriotic education base.

The former residence of Li Bai is located in Banxi Village, Zhangfang Town, Liuyang City, Changsha.

Li Bai (1910–1949), also known as Li Pu, Li Xia, Hua Chu, and Jing’an, was a native of Liuyang, Hunan. Coming from a poor family, Li Bai dropped out of elementary school and became an apprentice at a local dye workshop. In 1926, a Peasant Association and a Paper Industry Union were established in Zhangfang. Li Bai joined the Peasant Association, writing slogans during the day and keeping watch at night. Soon after, he joined the Communist Party of China. In May 1930, he joined the Third Red Army Corps. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, he was dispatched by the Central Committee to Shanghai, which was under Japanese occupation, to establish a secret radio station and gather intelligence on the Japanese army. In September 1942, he and his wife Qiu Huiying were arrested together. In the autumn of 1944, Li Bai and Qiu Huiying left Shanghai and traveled between Zhejiang and Jiangxi, transmitting military intelligence about the Japanese, puppet, and Kuomintang forces to Yan’an via radio. At the end of 1945, the couple returned to Shanghai and continued their secret radio work.

In 1946, when the Kuomintang launched a full-scale civil war, spies in Shanghai were actively investigating underground communist activities, putting Li Bai in a very difficult position. However, through his carefulness and the clever cooperation of his wife Qiu Huiying, he frequently sent military and political intelligence to Yan’an without incident for three years. In December 1948, he was arrested again in Shanghai. The Second Interrogation Unit of the Shanghai Garrison Command subjected Li Bai to severe torture. On May 7, 1949, Li Bai was secretly executed in Shanghai at the age of 39.

The August First Film Studio produced the film "The Eternal Wave" based on Li Bai’s story. The male protagonist in the film was modeled after Li Bai.

The former residence of Li Bai was originally built in the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It faces northeast and is situated southwest, featuring an earth-and-wood structure with small blue-tiled roofing. It has the layout of a traditional quadrangle courtyard. In 2010, with the support of Li Bai’s relatives in Hongkou District, Shanghai, as well as the people of Zhangfang Town and his hometown, the martyr’s former residence was restored to its original appearance. The residence consists of 16 rooms of various sizes, covering a construction area of over 800 square meters in a square layout, and sits on a site of more than 2,000 square meters. The residence has been restored with period furnishings and includes an exhibition room displaying the life and deeds of Martyr Li Bai. It opened to the public in the same year.

In June 2010, the former residence of Li Bai was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Liuyang City. In September 2011, it was recognized as a patriotic education base of Changsha City by the Propaganda Department of the Changsha Municipal Committee.

Zhangfang Town: Located at the easternmost part of Liuyang City — at the foot of Dawei Mountain — Zhangfang Town borders Tonggu and Wanzi counties in Jiangxi Province. It is 130 kilometers from Changsha and 64 kilometers from Liuyang. Provincial Highway 1854 runs through the town, offering convenient transportation and communication as well as ample electricity. The town covers an area of 320 square kilometers, with a population of 31,000, and boasts 400,000 mu of forested land, free from any industrial pollution. Within its territory lies Dawei Mountain National Forest Park, known for its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, making it a popular tourist destination for sightseeing and leisure.

To accelerate the processes of "industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural industrialization," the town’s Party committee and government are committed to...  Detailed information about Zhangfang Town++