Former Site of the Command Headquarters of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army

Former Site of the Command Headquarters of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army

The Former Site of the Command Headquarters of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army is a cultural tourism attraction.

Former Site of the Command Headquarters of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army

The Former Site of the Command Headquarters of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army is located at No. 74 Heping Road in the city center and was built in the late Qing Dynasty. The site was once the residence of Mr. Zhou Suyuan, a veteran of the 1911 Revolution in Guizhou, and also served as the headquarters of the army.

In February 1936, He Long, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and others led the Second and Sixth Corps of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army on the Long March to Bijie. In order to better implement the policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front and build anti-Japanese armed forces, following the political guideline of uniting the people and all patriotic individuals to join the anti-Japanese struggle—regardless of political affiliation or background—the Second and Sixth Corps established the “Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army” based on three local armed groups under the control of the underground Communist Party in Bijie: those led by Xi Daming, Zhou Zhifu, and Ruan Junchen. Three battalions were formed under this army. The civilian democratic figure and patriotic leader from Bijie, Zhou Suyuan, who had previously served as the Administrative Premier of the Guizhou Military Government, was appointed as the Commander of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army. Deng Zhige, a member of the 0 Guizhou Provincial Work Committee and Secretary of the Bijie Underground Party Branch, was appointed Chief of Staff. Li Guobin, Liao Ming, and Ouyang Chongting from the Second and Sixth Corps respectively served as the political commissars of the three battalions, while Xi Daming, Zhou Zhifu, and Ruan Junchen served as battalion commanders. The headquarters was located in the residence of Mr. Zhou Suyuan on Heping Road in downtown Bijie.

After the establishment of the Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army, various sectors in Bijie were organized to form public groups such as the “Anti-Japanese Salvation Committee” and the “Anti-Japanese Salvation Corps,” extensively carrying out work related to the Anti-Japanese National United Front. When the Red Army marched northward, the Second Battalion joined the Red Army and advanced north together, while the First and Third Battalions continued the struggle in the base area until liberation. Mr. Zhou Suyuan marched north with the Red Army. Upon arriving in Yan’an, he was personally received by Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman _, and Commander-in-Chief _. Chairman Mao praised him, saying: “He is a very close and respectable friend and revolutionary comrade of ours.”

The “Guizhou Anti-Japanese Salvation Army” was the only provincial-level anti-Japanese armed force established during the Long March of the Red Army. In 1985, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Long March, funds were allocated by the provincial, prefectural, and municipal governments to fully restore the former site of the headquarters. In the same year, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Guizhou Province, and the gold plaque hung there was inscribed by General Xiao Ke.

It is now open to the public free of charge as a patriotic education base.