Site of the Establishment of the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit

Site of the Establishment of the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit

The Site of the Establishment of the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Site of the Establishment of the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit is located at Heshang’an on Hualuoshan Mountain in Tiandong Village, Tianyuan Town, Lianping County.

Tianyuan Town (formerly Tianyuan Township) is a remote mountainous area and served as an important stronghold for the activities of the local Lianan military forces. In June 1947, Ye Lianming and Ye Shaoxiong used areas such as Baishihu, Hebei, and Meidongkou as their bases and gradually organized the local farmers. In August 1947, the first peasant association was established at Meidongkou, with over 10 members; soon after, another peasant association was set up in Yongji, with over 20 members. Building on these associations, the underground party organization in Tianyuan, following directives from higher authorities, began organizing a people’s armed force. On the evening of February 18, 1948, a meeting was convened at Heshang’an on Hualuoshan Mountain in Tiandong Village under the leadership of Ye Lianming and Ye Shaoxiong, leading to the establishment of the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit. At the same time, a militia unit was also formed. Initially, the Lianan Flying Tigers Unit had over 20 members and was affiliated with the Jiangbei People’s Self-Defense Corps. Ye Lianming served as the political instructor of the Flying Tigers, and Ye Shaoxiong as the captain. The militia unit comprised over 10 members, with Ye Xianyang as captain and Ye Xianjian as vice-captain.

After its formation, the Flying Tigers Unit, in accordance with the directives of the higher party organization at the time, engaged in resolute struggles against feudal landlords, mainly opposing the “Three Levies” (taxation, requisitioning, and conscription), and broke into grain storage facilities to distribute food supplies. On February 24, 1948, under the coordination of peasant association members and militiamen, Ye Shaoxiong led the Flying Tigers to seize over 100 dan (a traditional unit of measurement) of rice from the home of landlord Ye Fengfan in Zhenbei and transported it to the troops. Soon afterward, they distributed over 100 dan of rice from the Tianxi Zhao Public Granary to the local people, providing relief to impoverished farmers. From then on, the people of Tianyuan raised the banner of liberation under the Party’s leadership. Subsequently, the Kuomintang launched the third large-scale “mopping-up” operation in the Jiulian region. Under the leadership of the higher party organization, the Flying Tigers carried out tit-for-tat resistance within the Lianan District (including Changcui, Xinhe, Shuixi, and Yongji), organizing multiple battles at Maobushan, Meidongkou, and Shuixi. These actions pinned down KMT forces and strongly supported the anti–“mopping-up” struggle in the Jiulian region, making significant contributions to the revolutionary fight in the Lianan District.

In May 2011, a monument was erected for protection by the Lianping County Committee and County Government.

Tiandong Village: Tiandong Village…… More details about Tiandong Village++