Former Site of the Establishment of the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Team in Aotou Village, Gaoyao

Former Site of the Establishment of the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Team in Aotou Village, Gaoyao

The former site of the establishment of the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Team in Aotou Village, Gaoyao, is a cultural relic protection unit of Gaoyao District and a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the establishment of the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Team in Aotou Village, Gaoyao, is located in Degang Wu Ancestral Hall (also known as Shide Hall) within Aotou School on the west side of Aotou Village, Huodao Town. The building was constructed in 1938, with a single bay layout, measuring 15.13 meters in length and 13.3 meters in width, and faces south from a northern orientation.

In 1944, as Japanese forces faced consecutive setbacks on the Pacific battlefield, they sought to reinforce their isolated troops in Southeast Asia by advancing westward through Gaoming and Gaoyao, aiming to link up with Japanese forces moving south from Hunan to open the Guangxi-Guangdong corridor. To block this westward advance, the Gaoming People’s Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Unit established an anti-Japanese self-defense team in July of the same year at Degang Wu Ancestral Hall in Aotou Village, Huodao, Gaoyao. Wu Jianheng was appointed as the team leader, commanding a unit of over 30 members. On July 27, 1944, the self-defense team engaged in its first battle against the Japanese at Datianling (a local place name), killing one and injuring another. This unit later became an important component of the Gaoyao people’s armed forces and made significant contributions to the liberation of Gaoyao.

In August 2005, Degang Wu Ancestral Hall was designated as a county (city)-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Gaoyao City.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Zhaoqing Municipal Committee

Aotou Village: The Aotou Village Committee is located 12 kilometers southeast of the town government seat. It borders Genghe Town of Gaoming District, Foshan City, to the east, and the Aotou Industrial Park is situated within the area. Covering an area of approximately 7.3 square kilometers, it includes 1,009 mu of arable land and 9,958 mu of mountainous land. The village comprises one villager group with a total population of 1,137. Agriculture has traditionally been the dominant industry in Aotou Village, well known for the cultivation of sugarcane, yam bean (local sweet potato), and arrowroot. Forestry mainly focuses on planting eucalyptus and fir trees used for construction materials. Aotou Village has a proud revolutionary heritage. In 1945, the “Youth Study...” was founded at Chongde Building in Aotou Village. ++Detailed information about Aotou Village++