Ba'er Platform

Ba'er Platform

The Ba'er Platform is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

From April to October 1981, a joint military exercise involving multiple branches of the armed forces—including the Air Force, infantry, artillery, armored troops, engineering corps, missile forces, and communications troops—was held in North China. The exercise was codenamed the "Ba'er" military exercise, also known as the Great North China Military Exercise. During the exercise, our county, in cooperation with the troops, built a platform on a highland west of Wanquan City for central leaders to observe the drills. This platform was called the "Ba'er" viewing stand.

Background of the exercise: Wanquan has historically been the northern gateway to the capital, Beijing, and a strategic location contested by military forces throughout the ages. In the 1970s, the former Soviet hegemonists deployed one million troops along the Sino-Soviet and Sino-Mongolian borders, repeatedly provoking border incidents, bringing the region to the brink of a war between invasion and counter-invasion. Under these circumstances, the decision by the Central Committee to conduct this large-scale military exercise held significant practical importance and far-reaching historical significance.

Exercise scenarios: Simulated attack by a "Blue Army" tank division; airborne and anti-airborne operations; defense of fortified positions; and counter-offensive operations during a campaign.

In preparation for the visit of Party and state leaders to observe the military exercise within the county, the local Party and government leaders, along with the people of the entire county, placed great importance on this historically significant event. Six months prior to the military exercise, the County Party Committee established a "Support-the-Front Leadership Group" to assist the troops in preparing for the exercise. County-level government offices shared workspaces and offered their best offices to the military. Villages hosting stationed troops provided their best houses for the soldiers' accommodation. Despite tight supplies, logistics were prioritized for the troops to ensure they had a favorable environment for both training and daily life.

According to the exercise arrangements, a viewing stand was constructed on a highland opposite the west side of Wanquan City. Covering an area of over 100 acres, the stand was built following the terrain, with slopes terraced into step-like layers, which were then covered with gravel. On the path leading to the viewing stand, a walkway was paved with cobblestones and inlaid with simple patterns. Temporary tables and chairs were placed on the hilltop platform, creating an open-air viewing stand.

This exercise was the largest in the history of the People's Liberation Army in terms of the number of troops and equipment involved. Participating units included army divisions, brigades, regiments, and battalions from the ground forces, as well as aviation squadrons and airborne regiments from the Air Force, along with support units—a total of more than 114,000 personnel. The operation deployed 1,327 tanks and armored vehicles, 1,541 various types of artillery, 475 aircraft of different kinds, and 10,606 motor vehicles. On the ground, thousands of tanks and armored vehicles from both the Red and Blue armies engaged in large-scale tank battles; in the air, armed helicopters, attack aircraft, and fighter jets from both sides conducted intense aerial combat across different altitudes. Across the open terrain spanning tens of miles, smoke filled the air and flames shot up, vividly portraying the scene of a modern war.

On the viewing stand, Party and state leaders—[List of names redacted]—observed the exercise. For the first time in history, so many central leaders came to Wanquan, highlighting the military-strategic importance of the region.

Regarding this exercise, [Leader] gave high praise: "This exercise tested the achievements of the military’s modernization and regularization, effectively demonstrated the characteristics of modern warfare, explored experiences in joint operations of multiple branches under modern conditions, and enhanced the political and military quality and practical capabilities of the troops. It served as a strong boost to the construction, preparedness, and training of the entire armed forces. The exercise achieved its intended objectives and was a success!"

To permanently commemorate this historically significant event, the people of our county designated the viewing stand where central leaders inspected the military exercise as a memorial site and planted trees for greening. Over 30 years have passed, and the more than 5,000 pine and cypress trees on the viewing stand have grown lush and green, forming the largest pine-cypress forest in the county. The "Ba'er" Viewing Stand is now a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

Wanquan Town: Located in the northeastern part of Wanquan District, Wanquan Town lies within a shallow low-mountain and hilly region. It is 10 kilometers east of Zhangjiakou’s main urban area, 10 kilometers south of the county seat Kongjiazhuang, and 10 kilometers north of the Bashang Grassland. The town enjoys superior transportation conditions and a prominent geographical advantage. It governs 14 administrative villages (9 villages and 5 streets), with a total of 6,135 households and a population of 14,955, including 13,760 agricultural residents and a per capita income of 7,814 yuan. The total land area is 71.26 square kilometers, including 28,640 mu of arable land. Crops mainly include corn, millet, beans, tubers, sunflowers, and more... More detailed information about Wanquan Town++