Zhangjiajie launches Red tourist routes

Zhangjiajie not only boasts unique natural scenery, but also has rich revolutionary stories. All districts and counties here are national first-class “Soviet Areas”.

Zhangjiajie is the source and central area of revolutionary bases in Hunan-Hubei border areas, Hunan-Hubei western areas and Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan(Chongqing)-Guizhou Revolutionary areas. Sangzhi County is the hometown of Marshal He Long and the starting point of the Long March of the Second Front Red Army.

There is profound revolutionary history, with many revolutionary sites and touching revolutionary stories. In the 10-year Agrarian Revolutionary War, more than 200,000 people participated in the revolution, more than 20,000 people joined in the Red Army, and more than 60,000 people sacrificed for the revolution.

It’s rich in Red education resources, including the Former Residence of He Long, the Former Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base and other cultural relics units under state protection, 20 patriotism education bases and about 30 excellent courses of Party spirit education at or above the provincial level. It vividly records the glorious history of the Party. It’s an ideal place for Party members and cadres to inherit the revolutionary spirits.

On the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Zhangjiajie launched the following Red tourist routes.

1. Follow the footprints of the Second Front Red Army

The Memorial Hall of Long March of the Second Front Red Army

The Memorial Hall of Long March of the Second Front Red Army, located in Liujiaping Bai Township, Sangzhi County, is the only memorial hall in China that systematically displays the great achievements of the Second Front Red Army, which was rebuilt upon the approval of the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council.

It consists of six parts to vividly reflect the miracle of the Long March of the Second Front Red Army.
  
Monument to the Starting Point of Long March of the Second Front Red Army

The Monument to the Starting Point of Long March of the Second Front Red Army is located in Liujiaping Bai Township, Sangzhi County.

In 1935, He Long led his troops to start the Long March from Sangzhi, which saved many effective forces for the Chinese revolution and promoted the formation of Chinese united front against Japanese aggression.

In 1986, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the successful conclusion of the Long March, the monument was built in Gantianba, Liujiaping, and General Wang Zhen inscribed the words on it.

Former Site of the sixth corps headquarters of the Second Front Red Army

The former site of the six corps headquarters of the Second Front Red Army is located in Liujiaping Bai Township, Sangzhi County. It used to be the residence of a local squire, with a construction area of 1,400 square meters.

In November 1935, a special meeting was held here to decide on strategic transfer and create new base areas.  

Red Army Road along Golden Whip Stream

The Red Army Road (the road Red Army walked) is located along the Golden Whip Stream, with a total length of about 10 kilometers.

In November 1935, Xiao Ke led the sixth Red Army Corps to depart from Sangzhi and pass through Golden Whip Stream, Luogu Tower, Chaxin Bridge and Huangjiapu.

After meeting with the second Red Army Corps led by He Long, they passed through Lishui River and continued the western expedition.

In 1983, General Xiao Ke returned here to visit Huangshi village and Golden Whip Stream, and followed the path of the Red Army in those days, and wrote a poem to record this travel.

2. Pay tribute to Marshal He Long’s glorious life

He Long’s Former Residence

The Former Residence of He Long is located in Hongjiaguan Bai Township, Sangzhi County. Marshal He Long was born here on March 22, 1896.

On July 11,1986, Comrade Deng Xiaoping inscribed the words “He Long Former Residence”.

In 2004, it was listed as one of China’s 100 classic Red attractions, and it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2006.

He Long Memorial Hall

He Long Memorial Hall, located in Hongjiaguan Bai Township, Sangzhi County, is the only memorial hall in China that systematically displays the life and achievements of He Long approved by the CPC Central Committee.

In 1996, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Marshal He Long’s birth, the memorial hall was opened to the public.

In 2004, it was listed as one of China’s 100 classic Red attractions. It was approved as the national demonstration base for patriotism education in 2005 and the national defense education demonstration base in 2009.

He Long Park

He Long Park is located in Tianzi Mountain, Wulingyuan District, with an altitude of about 1,100 meters, mainly including the He Long Bronze Statue Square and He Long’s Cemetery. It integrates beautiful scenery and revolutionary stories. It was listed as a provincial martyr memorial building protection unit.

3. Tour of revolutionary base areas

Memorial hall of Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base

The memorial hall of Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base, located at No.179, Jiefang Road, Yongding District, displays more than 100 revolutionary cultural relics, reproduces the glorious struggle of the base area, and reflects the arduous revolutionary process and noble sentiments of the army and people in the base area.

General Xiao Ke inscribed the name of the memorial. It was approved as the national demonstration base for patriotism education in 2001 and the national demonstration base for defense education in 2017.

Bamaoxi Salt Bureau

The revolutionary site of Bamaoxi Salt Bureau is located in Wudaoshui Town, Sangzhi County, where Marshal He Long launched the uprisings.

The site lies at the junction of Hunan and Hubei provinces, which has been the fortress of ancient business roads of Hunan and Sichuan provinces. It was listed as a provincial cultural relics protection unit in 2011.  

Monument to Chenjiahe Battle

The momentum to victory at Chenjiahe is located in Chenjiahe Town, Sangzhi County. The Battle of Chenjiahe is a symbolic battle in the counter-encirclement and -suppression campaign of the Second and Six Corps of the Red Army.

In 1935, Chiang Kai-shek blockaded the defense with eight divisions. He Long, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke and others organized a counter offensive in Chenjiahe, and killed all enemies, winning the final victory.

In 1997, to recall ancestors and remember history, the local government built a monument in the battlefield.  

Red Army Tree

Located by Lishui River in Xikou Town, Cili County, the Red Army Tree is an ancient camphor tree with a history of more than 1,200 years. It’s famous for the Second and Sixth Corps of the Red Army led by He Long and Xiao Ke holding military meetings, military parades, intensive training and the incorporation of local armed forces under the tree for many times.

To express their love for the Red Army, the local people wrote the words “long live the Red Army” on the tree. Since then, the ancient camphor tree has been called the “Red Army Tree”.

The former site of the headquarters of the second and sixth corps of the Red Army, the former site of the Red Army Hospital

The headquarters of the second and sixth corps of the Red Army and the Red Army Hospital is located in Xikou Town, Cili County.

In 1935, when the second and six corps led by He Long and Xiao Ke carried out the agrarian revolution in Xikou town, they commanded many guerrilla wars, annihilation wars and blocking actions, including the counter-encirclement and -suppression campaign in Mianhua Mount. The two former sites were rated as provincial-level key sites.

Former Site of Xikou District Soviet Government

The Former Residence of Xikou District Soviet Government is located in Xikou Town, Cili County. In November 1934, the political power of the Xikou Soviet Government was set up to carry out the agrarian revolution and establish guerrillas.

The former site is a stilted building with western Hunan styles. It’s now a cultural relics unit under provincial-level protection.

4. Tour of humanist traditions

Former Residence of Liao Hansheng

Liao Hansheng was born in Sangzhi County, Hunan Province. He joined the revolution in 1929, joined the CPC in 1933, and was awarded the rank of lieutenant general in 1955. He served for multiple posts, including member of the Central Military Commission, and vice minister of the Ministry of National Defense.

Liao Hansheng’s Former Residence, located in Qiaoziwan Town, Sangzhi County, was first built during the Emperor Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1875-1908).

In 2011, it was rated as a cultural relics unit under provincial-level protection and a provincial patriotism education base.

Former Residence of Yuan Renyuan

Yuan Renyuan was born in Cili County, Hunan Province. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1925 and served at multiple posts after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, including vice minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, governor of Qinghai Province, and vice chairman of Hunan Province.

Yuan Renyuan’s former residence is located in Sanguansi Tujia Township, Cili County, and was built in 1855. The people in his hometown renovated Yuan’s former residence in 2017. It was rated as a municipal patriotism education base in 2018.

Former Residence of Chen Nengkuan

Chen Nengkuan was born in Cili County, Hunan Province. He was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He had been out of home for 25 years because he was ordered to participate in the development of China’s first atomic and hydrogen bombs. It’s not until 1986 that he returned. In 1999, he won the meritorious medal of "Two Bombs, One Satellite".

The former residence of Chen Nengkuan, located in Jiangya Town, Cili County, was listed as a municipal patriotism education base in 2018.  

Tian’s Old Courtyard

Tian’s Old Courtyard, located in Xixiping Subdistrict, Yongding District, was built in 1045, and rebuilt in 1723. It’s a living fossil of Tujia dwellings. More than 800 elites have grown up here.

In July 1940, Changsha Duize Middle School moved here to avoid the war. The former premier Zhu Rongji once studied here.

Yupu Academy

Yupu Academy is located in Yanghe Tujia Township, Cili County. It was started by the local Tujia gentry in 1883 and completed in 1886. It is a rare ancient Tujia academy in Hunan.

Many revolutionary predecessors came out of Yupu Academy, including Yuan Renyuan, Du Xinwu, and Zhang Shenchuan, the founder of the radio broadcasting of the Communist Party of China.
 
Nanyang Academy

Nanyang Academy is located in Jiangya Town, Cili County, which was formerly a temple. Before liberation, the Guanqiao Party branch, Guanqiao guerrilla and field command post were established here. After liberation, it’s the place of the government of Guanqiao old revolutionary base area.

In 2009, it was rebuilt into Nanyang Academy. Students from kindergarten to Grade 6 were officially enrolled in 2014. And it became a patriotism education base in Cili county in 2018.

Changyupu Village History Museum

Changyupu Village History Museum is located in Tongjinpu Town, Cili County. In the 1960s and 1970s, under the leadership of Comrade Huang Bingxiu, then secretary of the Party Branch, the village transformed hundreds of acres of terraces to solve the problem of food shortage for the people. Since then, it has been known as “a large village in southern China”.

In the 21st century, the village has been rated as a national green village and provincial beautiful countryside. In 2020, the first village history museum in Cili county was built in Changyupu village.

5. Tour of paying tribute to Red Army

Kuzhu Village (red army boat)

Kuzhu Village lies at the bank of Maoyan River in Lifuta town, Cili county. It is an ancient village with a long history and the place where the Sangzhi folk song “Hanging A Light at the Door” was popular.

The village was built in the Tang and Song dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was once an old wharf and ancient market in the upper reaches of Maoyan River. The Red Army ship was built according to the story of Red Army.

Meetings and Party lessons can be held on the ship.
 
Hongjiaguan Nursing Home for Veterans

Hongjiaguan Nursing Home for Veterans, located in Hongjiaguan Bai Township, Sangzhi County, was found in 1958. It provides nursing service for the elderly, disabled veterans and the families of martyrs. At present, there are 19 people living here.

Over the past 64 years, a total of 253 elderly people have been adopted and they all died at an average age of 80 with the highest 99.5 years old.

Da Guixiang, the wife of He Jinzhai, the first division commander of the Second Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army in the folk song “Lampstand Made of Coriaria Branches”, had lived here since the opening of the nursing home at its and died at 95.

Darongxi Nursing Home

Darongxi Nursing Home, located in Fengxianggang Subdistrict, Yongding District, was built in 1981.

It provides service for the elderly, the disabled veterans and the families of martyrs. At present, it has over 30 people living here.

It has won many municipal- and provincial-level titles for its excellent work provided for retired soldiers.