Former Site of the Huangyadong Arsenal

　　Former Site of the Huangyadong Arsenal (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

　　Era: 1939–1943

　　Location: Xiachiyu Village, Huangyadong Town, Licheng County

　　"Huangyadong" refers to a mountainous area, generally encompassing a region of about 10 square kilometers. At that time, the arsenal was built in the Shuiyao Valley, comprising a production area, an administrative area, and a living area. The remains of the factory buildings from that period and some later restored workshops still exist. Only ruins remain of the residential quarters. To the north of the factory area lies Huanglong Cave, a natural rock cave situated high on the cliffs, which served as the ammunition depot at the time. Opposite the cave, at the base of a protruding cliff, was the office of General Zuo Quan.

　　The Huangyadong Arsenal was established in 1939 when the Han Zhuang Arsenal was relocated and expanded here. At the time, it could produce enough weapons annually to equip 16 regiments, mainly supplying the North China battlefield. In 1943, Japanese forces invaded the arsenal, causing severe damage, and it was subsequently relocated to Xi’an Village in Pingshun.

　　Huangyadong is located beneath Ban Shan Ridge, west of Shangchiyu Village, Dongyadi Town, Licheng County. It faces a narrow river valley plain and covers an area of about 10 square kilometers. It earned its name from a natural cave in a yellow cliff, 1,600 meters above sea level, that can accommodate hundreds of people. This site was the former location of the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal and the battlefield of the "Battle of Huangyadong Defense." Surrounded by steep peaks and dramatic cliffs, it embodies the grandeur and beauty of the Taihang Mountains, making it a newly developed tourist destination.

　　In July 1939, under the instructions of Commander-in-Chief Zhu De and Deputy Chief of Staff Zuo Quan, the Eighth Route Army’s Ordnance Department established the arsenal in the Shuiyao Mountain area of Huangyadong. It mainly produced rifles, hand grenades, horse-tail grenades, Type 50 cannons, and more. The annual production was sufficient to equip sixteen regiments, making it a major ordnance base for the Eighth Route Army at the time.

　　From November 11 to 19, 1941, over 5,000 troops from the 4th and 6th Mixed Brigades of the Japanese 36th Division launched a combined land and air assault on Huangyadong. Over 900 soldiers from the Eighth Route Army Headquarters Special Regiment were ordered to defend the site. Leveraging the treacherous terrain, they fought fiercely for eight days and nights, eliminating over 1,000 enemy soldiers and achieving a remarkable casualty ratio of six to one in their favor. This set an unprecedented record in the history of Sino-Japanese warfare casualties and once again thwarted the Japanese forces’ attempt to destroy the Eighth Route Army’s ordnance production capabilities. The Military Commission, in its book *Comprehensive Study of Campaigns*, praised this defense as a "model battle against 'mopping-up' operations since 1941."

　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, local governments have continued to use Huangyadong as a base for revolutionary tradition education and patriotic education. Infrastructure has been improved, parts of the historical site have been restored, tourist attractions have been developed, and the integrated lodging, dining, and entertainment resort Bolong Mountain Villa has been newly built. A tourist program allowing visitors to "spend a day as an Eighth Route Army soldier" has also been introduced, becoming very popular with tourists.

　　Visitors depart from Bolong Mountain Villa and pass through the white marble glazed archway inscribed with “Huangyadong,” penned by Comrade [Mao Zedong], to reach the entrance’s Wengyilang Corridor. The corridor stretches 0.5 kilometers, with cliff tops on both sides almost meeting, creating a view akin to a "skyline" when viewed from below. It is narrow, deep, and serene, with clear springs and waterfalls cascading below, scattering beads of water like jade — a spot so strategically perilous it has been described as "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand." Exiting the corridor, there is a 120-step stone stairway flanked by a bunker, making the path extremely treacherous. At that time, 17-year-old bugler Cui Zhenfang eliminated over a hundred Japanese soldiers by holding his ground here before making the ultimate sacrifice. Ahead, the landscape suddenly opens up to a newly developed alpine park. At its center, a spring is dammed to form a lake, spanned by a winding plank bridge, with the "Jingying Pavilion" in the middle for visitors to enjoy the scenery and rest. The surroundings feature unique peaks, strange rocks, cloud-covered waterfalls, along with the Anti-Japanese Tower, Rainbow Bridge, and Little Mountain Pavilion, creating a vibrant landscape. Following the mountain path upward leads to the Martyrs’ Cemetery. The cemetery consists of a memorial monument, martyrs’ tombs, inscribed stones, and a memorial hall, standing amidst evergreen pines and cypresses. About 500 meters northwest of the cemetery, halfway up the cliffside, lies Huangyadong. Visitors can climb into the cave by sidestepping along an iron suspended ladder. The cave is trumpet-shaped, 18 meters wide, 72 meters deep, and 25 meters high, and was once used as a warehouse for the arsenal. Inside the crevices, two golden dragons are depicted to enhance the atmosphere. Legend has it that these dragons brought rain to aid the people and, over time, the yellow mist they exhaled stained the cliffs yellow — hence the cave is also called Huanglong Cave or Huangyan Cave.

　　Descending from Huangyadong, you’ll find the humble residence of Deputy Chief of Staff Zuo Quan. Following a mountain path southeast leads to the former site of the Shuiyao Arsenal, where the "Battle of Blood-Stained Water Cellar Entrance" took place. Today, the site remains intact, and visitors are deeply moved when seeing the extreme hardships and sacrifices made by the arsenal workers in support of the resistance efforts under such difficult conditions. On the southern hilltop, a square pavilion has been erected, with a horizontal stone tablet inscribed with the "Shuiyao Arsenal Memorial Monument." Its over 100 resounding characters praise the great achievements of those who created the people's military industry.

　　Huangyadong, with its steep mountains, rushing waterfalls, and lush forests, forms a natural park. Therefore, the state recently approved the establishment of the Huangyadong National Forest Park, injecting new vitality into the tourism of Huangyadong.