Battlefield Site of the Red Second and Sixth Armies’ Surprise Attack on Yachihe

Battlefield Site of the Red Second and Sixth Armies’ Surprise Attack on Yachihe

The Battlefield Site of the Red Second and Sixth Armies’ Surprise Attack on Yachihe is a cultural tourism attraction.

Battlefield Site of the Red Second and Sixth Armies’ Surprise Attack on Yachihe

In the first half of January 1936, Ren Bishi, He Long, Guan Xiangying, Xiao Ke, - and others led the Red Second and Sixth Armies into Guizhou, strategically shifting to northwestern Guizhou to establish a base area. In the late night of February 1, they launched a surprise attack on Yachihe and successfully crossed this treacherous natural barrier. In the early morning of February 3, they smoothly occupied Qianxi City, marking a crucial step toward establishing the base area, as well as the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Revolutionary Committee and various levels of revolutionary governments.

Yachihe Ferry was the only crossing point connecting several counties in northwestern Guizhou to Guiyang. The surrounding riverbanks were flanked by high, densely forested mountains with steep, rugged cliffs — some soaring dozens of meters high, others at least several meters — while the riverbed varied in width and depth, with dangerous waters and strong undercurrents, truly a formidable natural barrier that seemed impassable. At the time, all traffic across the river relied on wooden ferries. From the ferry landing to the mountaintop to the north were two passes, Daguan and Xiaoguan. The mountain paths were as steep as ladders to heaven, and even the main roads twisted and turned — a true case of “one man at the pass can hold off ten thousand.” To ensure the success of their surprise attack and river crossing, the Red Second and Sixth Armies, following directives from the military commission, feigned an attack on Guiyang to mislead the enemy with a feint to the east while striking to the west. This tactic successfully confused and diverted enemy forces. The Ninety-Ninth Division and Twenty-Third Division, deployed by Chiang Kai-shek at the Yachihe Ferry on the upper reaches of the Wu River west of Guiyang, hastily retreated toward Guiyang upon hearing reports of an emergency there. Seizing the opportunity of the weakened defenses at the Yachihe Ferry, the Red Second and Sixth Armies made a diversionary move, bypassed northwestern Guizhou, struck directly toward Xiuwen, raided Yachihe, and succeeded in their surprise attack in the late night of February 1. They occupied the northern ferry landing and spent three days crossing the perilous Yachihe River, leaving the enemy’s Ninety-Ninth and Twenty-Third Divisions stranded on the southern bank.