Liberation of Longjie Battle Site

Liberation of Longjie Battle Site

The Liberation of Longjie Battle Site is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Liberation of Longjie Battle Site is located in the old street area of Longjie Town, Heping County.

In the summer of 1949, the Second Regiment of the Second Detachment of the East River Column of the Chinese People's Liberation Army achieved resounding victories in the New-Lian River Border Area with eight consecutive wins in eight battles and ten straight victories in the New-Ing-Weng-Fo Border Area. In late May, they decided to press ahead and liberate Longjie, clearing out all enemy strongholds to the east of Xinfeng County and to the south of Heping County to pave the way for the advance of the main forces. By then, aside from the county seats, the Nationalist regular army and security regiments had withdrawn from both Heping and Xinfeng counties, leaving only local militia. In Longjie, there was a joint defense force of over 200 men led by Ye Shaochen, head of the Land Survey and Construction Association (including five joint defense teams such as from Ruan Pit and Baishou).

On May 25, 1949, our troops began the battle to liberate Longjie. After sweeping through the joint defense teams in Shuixi, Keluo, and Baishou in the town area of Longjie, the troops advanced toward the Longjie town center. The town had over 100 shops and more than 500 residents, serving as the site of the Heping County Longjie District Office and the Land Survey and Construction Association, and was the political, economic, and cultural hub of the region. At the time, food shortages were severe, the Nationalist currency had become worthless, public sentiment was chaotic, and the people longed for liberation. Based on this, the Second Regiment of the Second Detachment of the East River Column decided to use two methods to liberate the Longjie town center: the first was to strive for a peaceful liberation, and the second was a military assault. However, the enemy remained obstinate. After efforts to achieve peaceful liberation failed, our forces launched an armed liberation of the Longjie town center in the early hours of May 29. The Second Regiment first deployed troops to take control of Siqieling, about one kilometer southwest of the town, to prevent Nationalist reinforcements. At the same time, they secured Chaoshan, a high ground 150 meters west of the town, then surrounded the Nationalist Longjie District Office, eventually forcing the defending enemies to surrender. The enemies handed over more than 10 firearms. Our troops educated the captives and released them all. Longjie Town was thus declared liberated.

Longjie Town: Located in the southern part of the county, Longjie Town borders Tianyuan Town to the east, Matou Town of Xinfeng County to the south, Wengyuan County to the west, and Beitou Town to the northwest. It is 25 kilometers from the county seat and lies in the lower reaches of the Heping River. Covering an area of 272.2 square kilometers, it currently administers 21 village (residential) committees with a population of 42,000, including 37,000 agricultural residents. The area features hilly terrain, abundant forestry resources, a mild climate, ample rainfall, and rich hydropower resources. Established during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, the town was known as Changji Tu from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the early Republican period, and was renamed Changji (Third District) in 1918 (the 7th year of the Republic). In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic… More detailed information about Longjie Town++