Huangyadong Revolutionary Memorial Site in Licheng

　　   This is the former site of the Eighth Route Army’s munitions factory and the battlefield of the “Battle of Huangyadong.” Surrounded by towering cliffs and spectacular peaks, it combines the grandeur and beauty of the Taihang Mountains, making it a newly developed tourist destination. It also offers experiences such as “Spend a Day as an Eighth Route Army Soldier.”

　　   Huangyadong is located at the foot of Ban Mountain Ridge, west of Shangchiyu Village, Dongyadi Town, northern Licheng County, covering an area of about 10 square kilometers. It gets its name from a natural cave that can hold hundreds of people, situated on a 1,600-meter-high yellow cliff.

　　   In July 1939, following the instructions of Commander-in-Chief Zhu De and Deputy Chief of Staff Zuo Quan, the Eighth Route Army’s Ordnance Department established a munitions factory at Shuiyao Mountain in Huangyadong. The factory mainly produced rifles, grenades, horsehair bombs, and Type 50 cannons, serving as a key ordnance base for the Eighth Route Army at the time. From November 11 to 19, 1941, over 5,000 troops from the Japanese Army’s 4th and 6th Mixed Brigades of the 36th Division, led by General Sekigahara, launched a combined land and air assault on Huangyadong. Over 900 soldiers of the Eighth Route Army’s Special Guards Regiment were tasked with its defense. Leveraging the treacherous terrain, they fought fiercely for eight days and nights, killing over 1,000 enemy soldiers and achieving a remarkable casualty ratio of six to one (enemy to friendly), setting an unprecedented record in the history of the Sino-Japanese War. This victory once again thwarted the Japanese forces in North China’s attempt to destroy the Eighth Route Army’s munitions production. The Military Commission, in its book “Comprehensive Study of Campaigns,” praised this defensive battle as a “model anti-sweeping operation since 1941.”

　　   Starting from Bolong Mountain Villa and passing through the white marble memorial archway inscribed with “Huangyadong” by Comrade -, you’ll reach the entrance Wengyilang Corridor. The corridor is 0.5 kilometers long, with cliff tops on both sides almost meeting overhead, creating a view akin to a “skyline” crevice — a spot so narrow it’s said that “one man could hold the pass against ten thousand.” Exiting the corridor, you’ll climb 120 stone steps alongside a bunker, where the terrain is extremely perilous. Further 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 zigzag bridge, with the “Jingying Pavilion” built in the middle for visitors to enjoy the scenery and rest. The surroundings feature peculiar peaks, strange rocks, misty waterfalls, along with the Zhenci Tower, Feihong Bridge, and Little Hill Pavilion, creating a vibrant mountain-water painting. Following the mountain path upward, you’ll reach the Martyrs’ Cemetery. The cemetery consists of a memorial monument, martyrs’ tombs, inscribed stones, and a memorial hall, all standing amidst evergreen pines and cypresses. About 500 meters northwest of the cemetery, halfway up the cliff, lies Huangyadong Cave. Visitors can sidle along an iron suspension ladder to enter the cave. The cave is trumpet-shaped, 18 meters wide, 72 meters deep, and 25 meters high, and was once used as a warehouse for the munitions factory. Between the cliff crevices lie two golden dragons, adding to the dramatic atmosphere. Legend has it that the golden dragons acted on heaven’s behalf, bringing rain to aid the people. Over time, the yellow smoke they exhaled stained the cliffs yellow — hence the cave is also called Huanglong Cave (Golden Dragon Cave) or Huangyan Cave (Yellow Smoke Cave). Descending from Huangyadong Cave, you’ll find the modest living quarters of Deputy Chief of Staff Zuo Quan. Following a mountain trail southeastward leads to the former site of the Shuiyao Munitions Factory, where the “Bloody Battle at Shuijiao Entrance” took place. Huangyadong, with its steep mountains, rushing waterfalls, and lush forests, forms a natural park. Recently, the state officially approved the establishment of the Huangyadong National Forest Park. Ticket/Opening Hours: 47 RMB