Former Site of the River-Crossing Command Post

　　This former site is situated at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in the middle section of Zhengda Street, Zongyang Town. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is a Qing Dynasty–era structure consisting of three connected sections, with a total land area of 531.2 square meters and a built-up area of 494.5 square meters. The front section was demolished during the widening of the street, while the middle and rear sections were restored to their original appearance in 1978. The entire complex features a timber-and-brick structure, with arched beams, pillars, and interlocking wooden brackets. Its walls extend flush with the eaves for fireproofing, the roof is covered with traditional tiles, and the eaves curl upward with upturned corners. The gate tower is shaped like the Chinese character “八” (eight), and the door frame is made of square stone pillars, with a carving of two lions fighting over a ball above the door. On either side of the entrance are wooden-paneled wing rooms, and between the two main sections lies a rectangular courtyard. The middle section is spacious, with the main hall supported by eight pillars standing on high stone bases. The beams are carved with figures, flowers, dragons, and tigers; the ceiling is adorned with colorful patterns. Passing through a stone screen wall leads to the third section, which also has a square courtyard, flanked by east and west wing rooms with bright windows and painted beams. The three sections are interconnected yet internally divided, creating a balanced layout that reflects the architectural artistry of the Ming and Qing periods.

　　This former site served as the Central Command Post of the People’s Liberation Army during the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign. In 1961, it was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. In April 1998, it was designated as an Anqing Municipal Patriotic Education Base by the Anqing Municipal Committee Propaganda Department and the Municipal Education Commission. In 1999, it was further established as an Anqing Municipal National Defense Education Base for All Citizens, and in 2005, it was listed as a Youth Patriotic Education Base by the Provincial Youth League Committee.

　　In 1949, when the People’s Liberation Army launched the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, forces gathered from Wuwei in the east to Yaqigou east of Anqing in the south, assembling a total of four armies from the Third and Second Field Armies. The Central River-Crossing Command Post was set up inside the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. At that time, around 200,000 troops, boatmen, and transport teams were stationed along the northern bank of the Yangtze River near Zongyang. Within the Zongyang area, there were four crossing points: Zongyang Town, Saozhu Gully, Tangjiagou, and Guijiaba. At precisely 5:00 PM on April 21, the People’s Liberation Army received orders to attack. With thousands of boats setting off, by around 6:00 PM, the soldiers crossing from the central command successfully breached the formidable Yangtze River and reached the southern bank.