Feng Baiju’s Former Residence

　　Hainan Province’s patriotic education base — Feng Baiju’s Former Residence is located in Changtai Village, about 5 kilometers south of Yunlong Town, Qiongshan District, Haikou City. Surrounded by lush greenery, visitors enter the village via a flat road and soon arrive at the former residence of General Feng Baiju, hailed by Premier [Zhou Enlai] as “a banner of the people of Qiongya,” situated beside an ancient banyan tree with sprawling roots and dense foliage.

　　　　Changtai Village lies against a hill and faces verdant fields. Feng Baiju’s Former Residence is situated at the highest point of the village, backed by ancient trees and fronted by a spacious courtyard with vibrant flower beds and lush green lawns. The residence was originally built in 1922, burned down by Japanese troops during their “mop-up” operations and “scorched-earth” campaigns in the winter of 1942, restored in 1951, and rebuilt to its original appearance in 1984. In the middle of the expansive courtyard, a grand sculpture immediately catches the eye, with General Feng Baiju’s resolute expression commanding deep respect. On the black granite base of the sculpture, the five gilded characters “General Feng Baiju,” inscribed by [Premier Zhou Enlai], shine brilliantly.

　　　　The former residence consists of four parts: the main house, the rear house, the bronze statue, and the exhibition room, covering an area of 6 mu. Approaching the residence, the first thing visitors see is the half-length bronze statue of Feng Baiju erected in the center of the courtyard. The statue is 1 meter tall and 1 meter wide, with a base that is 1.9 meters tall and 1.2 meters wide. The front of the base is engraved with the words “General Feng Baiju” inscribed by [Marshal Ye Jianying], while the back features a “Brief Biography of General Feng Baiju.” Adjacent to the statue is the main house, a traditional Hainan-style residence constructed with stone and wood, featuring 13 beams and 10 pillars. It has a central hall with bedrooms on either side, following the traditional three-bay layout. A horizontal plaque inscribed with “Feng Baiju’s Former Residence” by Marshal [Chen Yi] hangs above the main entrance. Inside the hall, the eight-immortal chairs, the desk and bed in the bedroom, and the bamboo baskets and hampers in the kitchen are all well-preserved, exuding a rustic charm that speaks of the passage of time. The structure is surrounded by gray stone walls and topped with green tiles. The rear house is a smaller building with five beams and three bays.

　　　　The entire courtyard of the former residence is simple and elegant, with a serene environment. It not only recreates the historical setting but also tells the story of how an outstanding proletarian revolutionary was born and raised in such an ordinary farming family.

　　　　On the right side of the courtyard is an exhibition room dedicated to the life and achievements of Feng Baiju. The exhibition is divided into four sections: “Devotion to the Revolution,” “A Pillar of Strength,” “Glory in History,” and “Dedication to the End.” It displays artifacts and photos related to General Feng Baiju’s family background, daily life, and revolutionary activities. Here, visitors can learn about the history of the Qiongya revolutionary struggle and the legendary yet arduous life of General Feng Baiju. Influenced by Feng Baiju, 20 of his relatives joined the revolution, and 12 of them sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the people of Hainan.

　　　　The couplet at the former residence, “The general’s great deeds shine through history; the loyal spirit illuminates the world,” is an accurate tribute to Feng Baiju.

　　　　Feng Baiju (1903–1973), originally named Yuqiu and also known as Jizhou, was a native of Qiongshan, Hainan. He participated in the May Fourth Movement in 1919. In 1925, he entered the preparatory course at Daxia University in Shanghai. In early 1926, he returned to Qiongya to engage in revolutionary activities and served as the director of the office of the Farmers’ Association in the suburbs of Haikou. In September of the same year, he joined the [Chinese Communist Party]. After the failure of the Great Revolution in 1927, he held various positions including Secretary of the Qiongshan County Committee of the [Communist Party], member of the Qiongya Special Committee, Secretary of the Chengmai County Committee, and Secretary of the Qiongya Special Committee. He led the establishment of the Second Independent Division of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army and developed rural revolutionary bases. In 1932, after the failure of the second anti-“encirclement and suppression” campaign of the Qiongya Red Army, he led the Qiongya Soviet authorities and the Red Army in a grueling struggle of over eight months in the Muer Mountains, upholding the revolutionary banner of Qiongya. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he served as Captain of the 14th District Independent Detachment of the Guangdong People’s Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Corps, Commander and Political Commissar of the Qiongya Anti-Japanese Independent Brigade, Chairman of the Northeast Qiongya Anti-Japanese Democratic Government, and Commander and Political Commissar of the Qiongya Anti-Japanese Independent Column. During the Liberation War, he held positions including [Communist Party] Secretary of the Qiongya Region, Chairman of the Qiongya Democratic Government (Provisional Government), Commander and Political Commissar of the Qiongya Column of the People’s Liberation Army. In the spring of 1950, he led the military and civilians of Hainan in coordinating with the field army to conduct a seaborne operation, liberating Hainan Island.

　　　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Hainan Military and Political Committee, [Communist Party] Secretary of the Hainan Regional Committee, Director of the Hainan Administrative Office, Commander and Political Commissar of the Hainan Military Region, Member and Minister of the United Front Work Department of the South China Bureau of the [Communist Party] Central Committee, Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, [Communist Party] Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Member of the Central-South Bureau of the [Communist Party] Central Committee, Deputy to the First National People’s Congress, Member of the National Defense Council, Alternate Member of the Eighth Central Committee of the [Communist Party], Member of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the [Communist Party], and Vice-Governor of Zhejiang Province. In 1955, he was awarded the First-Class August 1st Medal, First-Class Independence and Freedom Medal, and First-Class Liberation Medal of the People’s Republic of China. He authored works such as “The Radiance of the Chinese [Communist] Party Shines Over Hainan Island” and “The Red Flag Never Falls.”