Ganzhou · History & Resistance

I. The Dawn of Civilization: Early Development of Southern Gannan from the Pre-Qin Period to the Han and Jin Dynasties

The history of Ganzhou can be traced back to the late Neolithic Age. In areas such as Shashi Town of Zhanggong District and Bailu Township of Ganxian District, archaeologists have discovered multiple cultural sites dating back approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years, yielding artifacts including stone axes, stone adzes, and stamped-pattern pottery shards. These remains indicate that as early as ancient times, the ancestors of southern Gannan had already thrived here, creating a primitive culture with distinct regional characteristics. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Ganzhou region fell within the sphere of the Baiyue ethnic groups. With its towering mountains, dense forests, and crisscrossing rivers, the Yue people settled by the mountains and waters, sustaining themselves through fishing, hunting, and rudimentary agriculture.

After unifying the six states, Qin Shi Huang dispatched troops in 214 BC to conquer the Baiyue in the south, establishing the three commanderies of Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiangjun. Although the southern Gannan region was not directly organized into commanderies or counties, it was brought within the sphere of influence of the central dynasty. In the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (201 BC), the imperial court established Gan County and Yudu County (present-day Yudu County) in the area of present-day Ganzhou, under the jurisdiction of Yuzhang Commandery, marking the beginning of administrative establishment in Ganzhou. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Sun Wu regime established the Southern Commandant of Luling in southern Gannan, with its seat located in present-day Yudu County, signifying the elevation of the military and political status of the southern Gannan region. During the Western and Eastern Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, frequent wars in the north drove large numbers of Central Plains scholars and commoners to migrate southward, with some entering southern Gannan. They brought advanced agricultural techniques and Central Plains culture, leading to a gradual increase in population and initial development of the economy and culture in southern Gannan.

During this period, Ganzhou, though remote, became an important corridor from the Central Plains to Lingnan thanks to the Gan River—Dayu Ridge—North River waterway route. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the renowned Taoist Ge Hong once lived in seclusion at Tongtianyan in Ganzhou to refine elixirs and cultivate the Tao, leaving an early imprint of Taoist culture. In the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, Buddhism began to spread to southern Jiangxi, and the first batch of grotto statues was carved at Tongtianyan, laying the foundation for the future flourishing of Buddhist art in Ganzhou.

II. Administrative Evolution: The Thousand-Year Transformation from Nankang Commandery to Qianzhou

In the ninth year of the Kaihuang reign of the Sui Dynasty (589 AD), the court abolished Nankang Commandery and established Qianzhou, with its seat in present-day Zhanggong District, Ganzhou, governing counties including Ganxian, Yudu, Nankang, and Dayu. The name Qianzhou was derived from the "Qianhua River," marking the beginning of Ganzhou's history as a prefecture-level administrative center. During the Tang Dynasty, Qianzhou belonged to the Jiangnan West Circuit and governed seven counties, with further economic and cultural development. In the fourth year of the Kaiyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty (716 AD), Zhang Jiuling was ordered by imperial decree to cut through the Dayu Ridge road, widening and repairing the Meiguan Ancient Road, making Ganzhou an important node on the Maritime Silk Road. This ancient road connected the Yangtze River water system with the Pearl River water system, and merchants, scholars, and officials traveling north and south passed through in an endless stream, earning Ganzhou the reputation of "the throat of Lingnan."

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Qianzhou was successively under the rule of the Southern Han and Southern Tang. In the first year of the Baoda reign of the Southern Tang (943 AD), Qianzhou was renamed Baisheng Army, and later restored to the name Qianzhou. In the first year of the Taiping Xingguo reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (976), the imperial court established Nan'an Prefecture, with its seat at Dayu (present-day Dayu County), standing alongside Qian Prefecture. In the 23rd year of the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1153), because the character "Qian" carried the connotation of a tiger's head and the local populace was known for its fierce nature, the court renamed Qian Prefecture to Ganzhou, drawing on the meaning of "the confluence of the Zhang and Gong rivers." The name Ganzhou has been used ever since. This renaming not only eliminated the inauspicious implication of the character "Qian" but also highlighted Ganzhou's geographical feature of "two rivers converging, embracing three rivers and encircling five lakes."

During the Yuan Dynasty, Ganzhou was elevated to a circuit and placed under Jiangxi Province. In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368), Ganzhou Circuit was changed to Ganzhou Prefecture, governing counties including Ganxian, Yudu, Xinfeng, Xingguo, Huichang, Anyuan, Longnan, and Shicheng. The Qing Dynasty followed the Ming system, and the jurisdiction of Ganzhou Prefecture remained largely stable. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Ganzhou Prefecture was the political, economic, and cultural center of southern Jiangxi, as well as a key military stronghold for the imperial court to control the border regions of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi. Through a thousand years of wind and rain, although Ganzhou's administrative divisions have changed repeatedly, its status as the central city of southern Jiangxi has never wavered.

III. Ganzhou in the Song Dynasty: The Golden Age of the Jiangnan Song City

The Song Dynasty was the most glorious period in Ganzhou's history. During the Jiayou reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1056-1063), the prefect Kong Zonghan, concerned about frequent floods from the Zhang and Gong rivers, reinforced the city walls with bricks and stones and built the Bajing Terrace to enjoy the river views. During the Xining reign (1068-1077), Liu Yi served as the prefect of Qianzhou and oversaw the construction of the Fushou Ditch, a remarkable urban drainage system. The Fushou Ditch, designed according to the terrain of Ganzhou City, which is higher in the south and lower in the north, utilized natural ponds and channels to orderly drain rainwater and domestic wastewater into the Zhang and Gong rivers, and featured water gates (sluices) to prevent river water from flowing backward. This drainage system has remained functional for nearly a thousand years and is hailed as "a model of ancient Chinese urban sewerage," still serving as a vital drainage facility in Ganzhou's old city today.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Ganzhou experienced a cultural golden age. In the 17th year of the Shaoxing reign (1147), the renowned poet Xin Qiji was appointed as the Judicial Commissioner of Jiangxi and stationed in Ganzhou. At Yugu Terrace, he composed the timeless masterpiece "Buddhist Dancers · Written on the Wall at Zaokou, Jiangxi": "Below Yugu Terrace flows the clear river, how many travelers' tears have fallen in its midst. Gazing northwest toward Chang'an, alas, so many mountains block the view. The green hills cannot block the river, which after all flows eastward. At dusk by the river, my sorrow deepens; deep in the mountains, I hear the partridges cry." This poem expresses the poet's grief over the fragmented nation and his longing to recover lost territory through vivid scenery, which also made Yugu Terrace famous throughout the land. Additionally, Zhou Dunyi, a Neo-Confucian philosopher of the Southern Song Dynasty, once served as a military judge in Nan'an Commandery and taught Neo-Confucianism in Ganzhou. His disciples Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi later became founders of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, earning Ganzhou recognition as one of the birthplaces of this philosophical school.

During the Song Dynasty, Ganzhou's handicraft industry and commerce flourished greatly. Ganzhou was one of the country's major ceramic production centers, with bluish-white porcelain and black-glazed ware from Qili Town Kiln sold both domestically and overseas. At the same time, Ganzhou was also an important shipbuilding base, where the government established shipyards with annual output ranking among the highest in the nation. Relying on the Gan River-Dayuling commercial route, Ganzhou city bustled with merchants and was dotted with guild halls, presenting a scene of great prosperity. Today, the well-preserved Song Dynasty city walls, ancient floating bridge, Fushou Ditch, Bajing Terrace, and Yugu Terrace in Ganzhou together form a complete historical panorama of the "Song Dynasty City in the South of the Yangtze River."

IV. Ming and Qing Garrison Stations and Ancient Fortresses: The Military Defense System of Southern Ganzhou

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Ganzhou, situated at the junction of four provinces—Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hunan—featured rugged mountains, dense forests, and a fierce local populace. Coupled with frequent refugee uprisings, the imperial court established a rigorous military defense system here. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, the court established the Ganzhou Guard, which oversaw multiple battalion-level units, stationing troops for both defense and farming to safeguard the region. During the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, to defend against raids by Japanese pirates and roving bandits, counties under Ganzhou Prefecture successively built city walls and fortresses, forming a defense network with Ganzhou City at its core, county seats as support, and rural fortresses as supplements.

The ancient fortress architecture in southern Ganzhou is uniquely distinctive, with the most representative examples being the Hakka enclosed houses in Longnan, Anyuan, and Dingnan counties. These enclosed houses integrate residence, fortress, and ancestral hall into one, featuring thick and tall outer walls equipped with gun ports and lookout holes, providing strong defensive capabilities. The Guanxi New Enclosure in Longnan was built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820), funded by local wealthy merchant Xu Mingjun, covering an area of approximately 7,700 square meters, and is one of the largest and best-preserved Hakka square enclosed houses in China. The four corners of the enclosure feature watchtowers, with outer walls constructed from blue bricks, and inside are ancestral halls, living quarters, granaries, wells, and other facilities capable of housing hundreds of people; once under attack, closing the main gate could allow them to hold out for months. Besides the Guanxi New Enclosure, the Yanyi Enclosure and Liyuan Enclosure in Longnan, the Dongsheng Enclosure in Anyuan, and the Mingyuandi Enclosure in Dingnan are all outstanding representatives of southern Ganzhou enclosed houses.

These ancient fortresses are not only military defense installations but also historical testimonies to the migration, pioneering, and settlement of the Hakka ancestors. The ancestral halls, couplets, plaques, and murals within the enclosures contain rich Hakka cultural information, serving as precious material evidence for studying Hakka social structure, clan systems, and architectural art. In 2012, the southern Ganzhou enclosed houses were included in China's tentative list for World Cultural Heritage, with their historical and cultural value widely recognized.

V. Ancient Cities, Ancient Pagodas, and Ancient Pavilions: Ganzhou's Historical Landmarks

The ancient city of Ganzhou preserves a wealth of historic buildings, among which the ancient city wall, Bajing Terrace, Yugu Terrace, ancient floating bridge, and Ciyun Pagoda are the most representative. The Ganzhou ancient city wall was first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was rebuilt with brick and stone during the Jiayou reign of the Northern Song Dynasty. It has been continuously repaired through subsequent dynasties, with about 3,600 meters of the wall still standing today, making it one of the most complete surviving Song Dynasty city walls in China. Built along the river, the city wall served dual functions of flood control and defense. Its wide top allows pedestrians to stroll along it, offering a magnificent view of the confluence of the Zhang and Gong Rivers.

Bajing Terrace is located on the ancient city wall at the confluence of the Zhang and Gong Rivers. It was first built during the Jiayou reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1056-1063) under the supervision of prefect Kong Zonghan. Kong Zonghan commissioned painters to depict eight scenic views of Ganzhou in a work titled "Eight Scenes of Qianzhou," and invited Su Shi to compose poems for it. Su Shi wrote "Eight Poems on the Eight Scenes of Qianzhou with Preface," which brought fame to Bajing Terrace across the land. Bajing Terrace was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The current structure was reconstructed in 1983, standing 28.5 meters tall with bracket arches and flying eaves, presenting an imposing appearance. From the terrace, visitors can take in the panoramic view of the Zhang and Gong Rivers merging and the beauty of the three rivers and six banks, making it the best vantage point for viewing the city of Ganzhou.

Yugu Terrace is situated atop Helan Mountain in the northwestern part of Ganzhou's urban area. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and named for its lush trees and the solitary prominence of the mountain. The ci poetry of Xin Qiji in the Southern Song Dynasty brought widespread fame to Yugu Terrace, and since then, countless literati have climbed the terrace to compose verses in its honor. The current Yugu Terrace was rebuilt in 1983, standing 17 meters tall as a three-story pavilion-style structure. From the top, visitors can overlook the entire ancient city of Ganzhou. The Ancient Floating Bridge spans the Zhang River, first built during the Qiandao reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1165-1173). It is formed by over 100 wooden boats linked together with iron chains, stretching about 400 meters in length, and remains in use today, making it a unique urban landmark of Ganzhou. Ciyun Pagoda is located in the eastern part of Ganzhou city, first built during the Tiansheng reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1023-1032). It is a six-sided, nine-story brick pagoda in the pavilion style, standing 42 meters tall, and is the oldest surviving pagoda structure in Ganzhou.

6. Hometown of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Ganzhou's Living Cultural DNA

Ganzhou is an important birthplace and gathering place of Hakka culture, with exceptionally rich intangible cultural heritage resources. Currently, Ganzhou boasts over ten national-level representative intangible cultural heritage projects and dozens of provincial-level projects, covering various categories including traditional music, dance, opera, fine arts, craftsmanship, and folk customs.

Xingguo Mountain Songs are one of Ganzhou's most representative intangible cultural heritage items, originating in the Qin and Han dynasties, flourishing in the Tang and Song dynasties, and reaching their peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. They are an art of improvised antiphonal singing created by Hakka ancestors while working in the mountains. Xingguo Mountain Songs open with the refrain "Ai ya lei—", featuring soaring and melodious tunes with simple yet vivid lyrics, covering themes of labor, love, daily life, and revolution. During the Agrarian Revolutionary War period, the people of Xingguo used mountain songs to spread revolutionary ideas and boost morale, leaving behind the celebrated tale of "one mountain song rallying three divisions." In 2006, Xingguo Mountain Songs were inscribed on the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Gannan Tea-Picking Opera is another cultural calling card of Ganzhou. It originated in the Jiulong Mountain tea region of Anyuan County, took shape in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and is an important genre of Jiangxi local opera. Gannan Tea-Picking Opera features three major performance techniques: the "dwarf step," "single sleeve," and "fan flower." Its language is humorous and witty, and its music is fresh and lively, making it deeply beloved by the public. In addition, traditional crafts and folk activities such as Yudu's Suona Gongpo Blowing, Shicheng's Lantern Decorations, Longnan's Fire Dragon Dance, and Quannan's Horse-and-Carriage Lanterns are also brilliant gems in Ganzhou's intangible cultural heritage treasury. Ganzhou also boasts a wealth of traditional handicraft techniques, such as Ganxian Tiancun Lantern Making, Dayu Nan'an Pressed Duck, and Ningdu Gucun Jia Wine Brewing. These skills have been passed down from generation to generation, carrying forward the wisdom of daily life and cultural memory of the Hakka people.

VII. The Architectural Code of Ancient Fortresses: The Construction Wisdom of Enclosed Houses

Gannan enclosed houses (weiwu) are a unique architectural form created by Hakka ancestors under specific historical circumstances. Their construction techniques embody rich wisdom and profound cultural connotations. The site selection of enclosed houses is extremely meticulous, typically nestled against mountains and beside water, facing south with a northern back—convenient for defense while also conducive to production and daily life. The plane layout of the enclosed houses is mainly in the shape of "entrance" (square) and "Return" (nested square), with the ancestral hall in the center, living quarters around it, and thick enclosing walls on the outside. The walls are built with blue bricks or rammed earth (sanhetu), generally ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 meters in thickness and reaching heights of over 10 meters, making them exceptionally sturdy.

The defensive design of enclosed houses is highly meticulous. Watchtowers rising above the roofline are set at the four corners of the house, each with firing ports on all sides, enabling comprehensive, blind-spot-free fire coverage around the entire structure. The main gate of the walled house is made of thick hardwood, clad in iron sheeting, with a heavy crossbar behind the door and a trough above the entrance from which boiling water or hot oil could be poured down to repel enemy attacks. Inside the walled house are living facilities such as a well, granary, mill, and pigsty, allowing it to be self-sufficient even when besieged for months. The drainage system of the walled house is also ingeniously designed, with rainwater and wastewater channeled through hidden drains to the outside, keeping the interior clean and hygienic without compromising the stability of the enclosing walls.

In terms of architectural decoration, the walled houses showcase the superb craftsmanship of Hakka artisans. The wood carvings, stone carvings, and colorful paintings in the ancestral hall are exquisite, with motifs mostly featuring auspicious patterns such as dragons and phoenixes bringing prosperity, flowers blooming in wealth, and scenes of fishing, woodcutting, farming, and reading. The couplets and plaques in the walled houses are often the work of renowned calligraphers, with content centered on passing down farming and scholarship through generations, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, reflecting the values and life aspirations of the Hakka people. Inside the ancestral hall of Longnan Guanxi Xinwei, several couplets inscribed by renowned scholars of the Qing Dynasty are still preserved to this day, such as "Be diligent and frugal, to fulfill your father's will;" Be able to farm and read, without shaming your ancestors' legacy," fully embodying the traditional virtues of the Hakka ancestors in hard work, thrift, and reverence for education.

VIII. Living Heritage: The Contemporary Continuation of a Millennium-Old Legacy

Ganzhou's historical culture exists not only in museums and ancient texts but also thrives in the daily lives of contemporary people. In recent years, Ganzhou has placed great emphasis on the protection and revitalization of its historical and cultural heritage, investing substantial funds in the restoration and maintenance of historical sites such as the ancient city wall, Bajing Tower, Yugu Tower, and the ancient floating bridge, and on this basis has developed the Jiangnan Song Dynasty Cultural Tourism Zone. Strolling through the Song Dynasty scenic area, visitors can climb the ancient city wall, visit Bajing Tower, cross the ancient floating bridge, and wander through Zao'er Lane, as if traveling back in time to Ganzhou of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago.

Ganzhou's intangible cultural heritage is also being revitalized through living inheritance. Xingguo folk songs enter campuses and communities, and a new generation of young folk singers is constantly emerging. Gannan tea-picking opera has launched a number of newly written plays that are deeply loved by audiences; Traditional folk activities in Hakka enclosed houses, such as Tiandingpao (firecracker ceremony for newborn sons), Shangdeng (lantern-lighting ceremony), and dragon dances, are still held with great festivity during holidays. Ganzhou also regularly hosts events such as the Hakka Culture Festival and intangible cultural heritage performances, bringing traditional culture into modern life.

The protection of Ganzhou's historical and cultural districts has also achieved remarkable results. Historical and cultural districts such as Zao'er Lane, Nanshi Street, and Yaoyaqian have been restored and renovated, preserving the original street layout and architectural style, while introducing cultural and creative shops, specialty dining, and homestays, achieving a virtuous cycle of protection and utilization. These districts have not only become important windows for visitors to learn about Ganzhou's history, but also popular destinations for local residents to relax and enjoy leisure time.

The historical lineage of Ganzhou spans over two thousand years, from the primitive settlements of the Baiyue peoples in the pre-Qin period, through the establishment of a county in the Han Dynasty and a prefecture in the Sui Dynasty, to the glory of the "Jiangnan Song City" in the Song Dynasty, and on to today's cultural inheritance and innovation. This city, known as the "Cradle of the Hakka," carries profound historical memories while radiating vibrant vitality and energy. The history of Ganzhou is a history of the fusion of Central Plains culture and Baiyue culture, a history of the Hakka ancestors' arduous pioneering and enterprising spirit, and a history of the continuous transmission and enduring vitality of Chinese civilization across the land of southern Jiangxi.

I. Seeds of Revolution: Early Revolutionary Activities and the Establishment of Party Organizations in Southern Jiangxi

The history of modern revolution in Ganzhou can be traced back to the May Fourth Movement period. After the outbreak of the May Fourth Movement in 1919, young students in Ganzhou city responded actively, holding large-scale demonstrations and parades to show solidarity with the patriotic actions of Beijing students. Subsequently, Marxism began to spread across southern Jiangxi. After the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921, progressive young people from southern Jiangxi went out to study one after another, embracing revolutionary ideas. In 1924, Chen Zanxian, a young man from Ganzhou, joined the Communist Party of China in Guangzhou, becoming one of the earliest CPC members in southern Jiangxi.

In the autumn of 1926, when the National Revolutionary Army's Northern Expedition entered Jiangxi, the workers' and peasants' movement in Ganzhou flourished. In October of the same year, the Ganzhou Special Branch of the CPC was established, with Chen Zanxian as its secretary—the first CPC organization in southern Jiangxi. After its founding, the Special Branch actively organized trade unions and peasant associations, launching workers' and peasants' movements. In February 1927, the Ganzhou General Trade Union was established with tens of thousands of members, and Chen Zanxian was elected as its chairman. Under Chen Zanxian's leadership, the workers' movement in Ganzhou surged, with strikes demanding higher wages and better working conditions erupting one after another, making Ganzhou one of the most active centers of the workers' movement in Jiangxi at the time.

On March 6, 1927, right-wing forces of the Kuomintang perpetrated the nationally shocking "March 6th Massacre" in Ganzhou, murdering Chen Zanxian, the chairman of the Ganzhou General Trade Union. Chen Zanxian was only 31 years old when he died, and his final cry—"Revolution fears not death; those who fear death do not revolution"—demonstrated the heroic spirit of a Communist who faced death without flinching. Chen Zanxian's sacrifice ignited immense outrage among the people of southern Jiangxi and further strengthened their resolve to follow the Communist Party in revolution. Thereafter, Party organizations across southern Jiangxi persisted in their struggle under the White Terror, accumulating strength for the later armed uprisings and the establishment of revolutionary base areas.

II. Liberation and Enlistment: The Southern Jiangxi Uprisings and the Growth of the Red Army

After the Nanchang Uprising broke out on August 1, 1927, the uprising forces marched south through Guangdong and passed through southern Jiangxi, engaging in multiple battles in Ruijin, Huichang, and other places, expanding the revolutionary influence. In January 1929, Mao Zedong and Zhu De led the main force of the Fourth Red Army from Jinggangshan into southern Jiangxi, successively establishing base areas in southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. During the Fourth Red Army's time in southern Jiangxi, they attacked local tyrants, distributed land, mobilized the masses, and established red political power. Armed uprisings broke out across southern Jiangxi, with the revolutionary flame spreading like wildfire.

Between 1929 and 1931, dozens of armed uprisings erupted in southern Jiangxi, including the Yudu Uprising, Xinfeng Uprising, Xingguo Uprising, and Xunwu Uprising. Although these uprisings varied in scale, they all dealt heavy blows to the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang and created conditions for the establishment of the base areas. In March 1930, the Southwest Jiangxi Soviet Government was established, marking the formal formation of the Southern Jiangxi Soviet Area. In October of the same year, the First Red Army Corps captured Ji'an, connecting the Southwest Jiangxi Soviet Area with the Western Fujian Soviet Area, and the Central Soviet Area initially took shape.

The people of southern Jiangxi gave their full support to the Red Army. According to statistics, during the Central Soviet Area period, over 330,000 people from the Gannan Soviet Area joined the Red Army, accounting for more than one-seventh of Gannan's total population at that time. Xingguo County is a renowned "County of Generals," where over 80,000 of its 230,000 residents joined the Red Army, meaning nearly one in every three able-bodied young men enlisted. Ruijin County also saw more than 50,000 people join the Red Army. The people of Gannan not only enthusiastically enlisted but also actively supported the front lines, organizing stretcher teams, transport teams, and laundry teams to deliver supplies and care for the wounded. Heartwarming stories of mothers sending sons, wives sending husbands, and brothers vying to go to the battlefield were common throughout the Gannan Soviet Area, fully demonstrating the people's unwavering loyalty to the revolution.

III. Anti-Japanese Democratic Regime: Political Construction in the Gannan Soviet Area

During the Central Soviet Area period, political construction in the Gannan Soviet Area achieved remarkable results. On November 7, 1931, the First National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic was grandly held in Yeping, Ruijin, proclaiming the establishment of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, with Mao Zedong elected as Chairman. Ruijin thus became the "Red Capital," and the Gannan Soviet Area became the central hub of the nationwide Soviet movement. After the establishment of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, it successively promulgated important laws such as the Constitutional Outline, Land Law, Labor Law, and Marriage Law, establishing a relatively complete system of political power.

The administrative divisions of the Gannan Soviet Area underwent multiple adjustments. Between 1930 and 1934, Gannan successively established several provincial-level Soviet regimes, including Jiangxi Province, Fujian Province, Yue-Gan Province, and Gannan Province, which governed dozens of county-level Soviet governments. Soviet governments at all levels implemented a democratic election system, with the Congress of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers serving as the highest authority. Government staff were elected and subject to public supervision. The Soviet government placed great emphasis on economic development, organizing farmers to carry out mutual aid and cooperative movements, building water conservancy projects, and developing agricultural production. It also established industrial and mining enterprises such as the China Tungsten Company, providing crucial economic support for the Soviet Area.

Cultural and educational development was an important component of political construction in the Gannan Soviet Area. The Soviet government vigorously promoted compulsory education, establishing schools at various levels, including Lenin Primary Schools, Red Army Schools, and Soviet University. According to statistics, by 1934, Ruijin County alone had over 200 Lenin Primary Schools, with a school-age children enrollment rate exceeding 60%, far higher than the national average at the time. The Soviet Area also launched newspapers such as Red China and Struggle, established literary and artistic groups like the Workers' and Peasants' Drama Society and the Blue Shirt Troupe, and carried out a rich variety of mass cultural activities. The political power construction practices in the Gannan Soviet Area accumulated valuable experience for the Chinese Communist Party's later political power building during the War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation.

IV. Famous Battles: The Heroic Chapter of the Central Soviet Area's Anti-"Encirclement and Suppression" Campaigns

During the Central Soviet Area period, Gannan was the main battlefield of the anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaigns. From November 1930 to October 1934, the Kuomintang army launched five large-scale military "encirclement and suppression" campaigns against the Central Soviet Area. Under the Party's leadership, the people of Gannan waged arduous anti-"encirclement and suppression" struggles, writing a heroic chapter in the history of China's revolutionary wars.

The First Anti-"Encirclement and Suppression" Campaign took place from November 1930 to January 1931. Under the command of Mao Zedong and Zhu De, the First Front Army of the Red Army adopted the strategic policy of "luring the enemy in deep," drawing the Kuomintang forces into the heart of the base area. On December 30, 1930, the Red Army ambushed the enemy's 18th Division at Longgang (now part of Yongfeng County, Ji'an City), annihilating over 9,000 troops of the division and capturing its commander, Zhang Huizan. Subsequently, the Red Army pressed forward with victory, eliminating another enemy division in the Dongshao area. This campaign eliminated over 15,000 enemy troops in total, shattering the enemy's first "encirclement and suppression." The Second Counter-Encirclement Campaign took place from April to May 1931. The Red Army adopted the strategy of "concentrating forces and striking the weaker enemy first," winning five consecutive battles at Futian, Baisha, Zhongcun, Guangchang, and Jianning in southern Jiangxi, sweeping across over 700 li and annihilating more than 30,000 enemy troops, thus shattering the enemy's second encirclement. Second "encirclement and suppression" campaign.

The Third Counter-Encirclement Campaign took place from July to September 1931. Chiang Kai-shek personally served as commander-in-chief, mobilizing 300,000 troops and employing the tactic of "deep thrust." Under Mao Zedong's command, the Red Army adopted the strategy of "avoiding the enemy's main force and striking at its weak points," maneuvering against the enemy at Gaoxingwei and Laoyingpan in Xingguo County, successively annihilating over 30,000 enemy troops and shattering the enemy's third encirclement. The Fourth Counter-Encirclement Campaign took place from February to March 1933. Under the command of Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, the First Front Army of the Red Army set up ambushes at Huangpi and Caotaigang in Yihuang County, annihilating nearly three divisions of Nationalist troops and capturing over 10,000 enemy soldiers, achieving a major victory in the fourth counter-encirclement campaign. Profit.

The Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign took place from September 1933 to October 1934. Due to erroneous command influenced by "Left" dogmatism, the Red Army suffered heavy losses in battles such as the Defense of Guangchang and the Battle of Gaohunao, and was ultimately forced to carry out a strategic retreat. In October 1934, the main force of the Central Red Army, numbering over 86,000 troops, set out from the banks of the Yudu River, beginning the world-famous Long March of 25,000 li. The people of the southern Jiangxi Soviet Area made tremendous sacrifices for the Long March; in Xingguo County alone, over 12,000 martyrs died during the march.

V. Supporting the Great War: Southern Jiangxi's Strategic Position in the War of Resistance Against Japan

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, the full-scale War of Resistance Against Japan broke out. As a key strategic point in Southeast China, Ganzhou played an important role during the War of Resistance. In August 1937, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party reached a cooperation agreement, and the Red Army guerrilla forces from eight southern provinces were reorganized into the New Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army (abbreviated as the New Fourth Army). The guerrilla forces from the Jiangxi-Guangdong border and the Fujian-Jiangxi border, along with other armed forces from southern Jiangxi, were incorporated into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd detachments of the New Fourth Army respectively, and marched to the front lines of the anti-Japanese war. Southern Jiangxi became one of the New Fourth Army's key recruitment bases.

During the War of Resistance, Ganzhou served as the strategic rear and material transshipment center for the southeastern provinces. Situated at the junction of Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hunan provinces and far from the main battlefields, Ganzhou saw a large number of government agencies, schools, and factories relocated there, briefly becoming the cultural center of the anti-Japanese resistance in Southeast China. Between 1939 and 1944, Ganzhou successively established multiple middle schools and vocational schools, taking in a large number of exiled teachers and students from occupied areas. At the same time, Ganzhou also undertook the important task of supplying frontline troops, grain, and materials. According to statistics, during the War of Resistance, counties across southern Jiangxi contributed approximately 100,000 soldiers and raised millions of dan of military grain, making significant contributions to the war effort.

In 1942, the Japanese army launched the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, and Ganzhou once faced the threat of Japanese invasion. The military and civilians of Ganzhou actively prepared for defense, building fortifications and organizing anti-Japanese self-defense forces. In July 1945, a Japanese force advanced northward from Guangdong into southern Jiangxi, successively occupying Longnan, Dingnan, and Quannan counties. The military and civilians of southern Jiangxi rose up in resistance, and under the strikes of local armed forces, the Japanese army failed to penetrate deep into Ganzhou's hinterland and soon retreated. Ganzhou was one of the few major cities in Jiangxi not occupied by the Japanese for an extended period, a fact inseparable from the heroic resistance of the military and civilians in southern Jiangxi.

VI. Supporting the Front and Liberation: The Liberation and Rebirth of Southern Jiangxi

After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the reactionary Kuomintang clique launched a full-scale civil war. Under the leadership of the Communist Party, the people of southern Jiangxi took up arms again, waged guerrilla warfare, and coordinated with the main forces of the People's Liberation Army in combat. From 1947 to 1949, guerrilla forces across southern Jiangxi were highly active, attacking local Kuomintang regimes, disrupting transportation lines, and tying down large numbers of enemy troops, creating favorable conditions for the liberation of southern Jiangxi.

In April 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign and liberated Nanjing. Subsequently, the Fourth Army of the Second Field Army and the Fifteenth Army of the Fourth Field Army advanced into southern Jiangxi from the east and west routes respectively. On August 14, 1949, the People's Liberation Army liberated Ganzhou City, marking the liberation of Ganzhou. After the liberation of Ganzhou, the People's Liberation Army continued southward, successively liberating all counties in southern Jiangxi. By the end of September 1949, the entire region of southern Jiangxi was liberated, opening a new chapter in Ganzhou's history.

After the liberation of southern Jiangxi, the Party and the people's government swiftly carried out work such as taking over administration, suppressing bandits and counter-revolutionaries, and land reform, restoring production and stabilizing social order. The people of southern Jiangxi devoted themselves with great enthusiasm to the construction of the new China, and the former revolutionary base area radiated new vitality. In 1950, Ganzhou Prefecture was established, governing counties including Ganxian, Nankang, Xinfeng, Dayu, Shangyou, Chongyi, Anyuan, Longnan, Dingnan, Quannan, Ningdu, Yudu, Xingguo, Ruijin, Huichang, Shicheng, and Xunwu, making Ganzhou the most important administrative region in southern Jiangxi Province.

7. Base Area Construction: Economic and Social Transformation in the Gannan Soviet Area

During the Central Soviet Area period, the economic development and social transformation in the Gannan Soviet Area achieved remarkable results, providing strong support for the consolidation and development of the base area. The agrarian revolution was the core content of Soviet area construction. After the establishment of the Soviet government, a vigorous agrarian revolution campaign was immediately launched, promulgating the Land Law, confiscating landlords' land, and distributing it to peasants who had little or no land. According to statistics, from 1931 to 1933, approximately 2 million mu of land was distributed in the Gannan Soviet Area, enabling hundreds of thousands of peasants to obtain land. The in-depth development of the agrarian revolution greatly stimulated peasants' enthusiasm for production and revolutionary fervor.

The economic construction of the Soviet area adopted a series of effective measures. In agriculture, the Soviet government organized peasants to form mutual aid groups and plow-ox cooperatives, undertook water conservancy projects, improved crop varieties, and promoted advanced farming techniques, leading to year-on-year increases in grain output in the Soviet areas. In industry, the Soviet areas established a number of industrial and mining enterprises, including the China Tungsten Company, the Central Printing Factory, and the Central Clothing Factory. Among them, the China Tungsten Company was the largest state-owned enterprise in the Central Soviet Area, producing approximately 1,000 tons of tungsten ore annually and providing an important source of fiscal revenue for the region. In commerce, the Soviet areas set up institutions such as the Grain Adjustment Bureau and the Foreign Trade Bureau, which broke the enemy's economic blockade and ensured the supply of materials for the Soviet areas.

Social transformation was another important aspect of Soviet area construction. The Soviet government abolished feudal ethics, advocated gender equality, promulgated marriage laws, and protected women's rights. The Soviet areas also launched literacy campaigns, establishing night schools and literacy classes to raise the cultural level of the masses. In healthcare, the Soviet areas established Red Army hospitals and civilian clinics, trained a number of medical personnel, and improved medical and health conditions in the region. Despite being in a wartime environment, the economic and social construction of the Gannan Soviet Area achieved remarkable results, fully demonstrating the strong vitality of base area construction under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

VIII. Portraits of Figures: Heroic Sons and Daughters from Gannan

Southern Jiangxi is a land of red revolution and heroic legacy. During the long revolutionary struggles, Southern Jiangxi produced a host of outstanding heroes who made remarkable contributions to China's revolution and construction, composing a magnificent ode of heroism with their lives and blood.

Chen Zanxian was one of the earliest Communist Party members in Southern Jiangxi and a distinguished leader of the workers' movement in Ganzhou. He returned to Ganzhou in 1926 to lead the workers' movement and organized the establishment of the Ganzhou General Labor Union. On March 6, 1927, he was killed by right-wing Kuomintang elements at the age of just 31. After Chen Zanxian's sacrifice, Mao Zedong highly praised his revolutionary spirit at a memorial meeting held at the Central Peasant Movement Training Institute in Wuchang. Gu Bai was an early revolutionary leader of Xunwu County. In 1928, he led the Xunwu Uprising and later served as county party secretary of Xunwu and secretary-general of the General Front Committee of the First Front Army of the Red Army. In 1935, Gu Bai was killed in Longchuan, Guangdong, at the age of 29. Mao Zedong once wrote an inscription: "My friend Gu Bai, spirited and vigorous, gave his life for the nation, a loss deeply mourned."

Xingguo County is renowned as the "County of Generals," having produced 56 founding generals of the People's Republic of China, including Xiao Hua, Chen Qihan, and Zhu Ming. General Xiao Hua was born in Xingguo County in 1916. He joined the revolution at age 12, the Communist Youth League of China at 14, and at 17 became political commissar of the Young Communist International Division, making him one of the youngest division-level political commissars in the Red Army. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xiao Hua served as Political Commissar of the Air Force and Deputy Director of the General Political Department, and was awarded the rank of General in 1955. Ruijin County was also a land of heroes, producing close comrades-in-arms of national leaders such as Yang Shangkun and Deng Xiaoping, as well as a large number of revolutionary martyrs. According to statistics, the Soviet Area in southern Jiangxi had over 108,000 revolutionary martyrs, accounting for nearly half of the total in Jiangxi Province. Among them, Xingguo County alone had over 23,000 martyrs, making it the county with the most martyrs in the country.

IX. Memory and Commemoration: Inheritance and Promotion of Red Culture

Ganzhou is an important birthplace of China's red culture, with extremely rich red resources. According to statistics, Ganzhou has over 600 preserved revolutionary sites and relics, and tens of thousands of revolutionary artifacts, making it one of the prefecture-level cities with the most revolutionary artifacts in the country. The Ruijin Cradle of the Republic Scenic Area, the Yudu Memorial Park of the Long March Departure of the Central Red Army, and the Xingguo Memorial Park of the Fine Work Style of Soviet Area Cadres are all nationally important red tourism attractions and patriotic education bases.

The Ruijin Cradle of the Republic Scenic Area is the core scenic area of Ganzhou's red tourism, comprising four major scenic zones: Yeping, Hongjing (Red Well), the Second Soviet Congress Site, and the Chinese Soviet Republic Memorial Park. Yeping was the seat of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, where the former residences and offices of leaders such as Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai are preserved. Hongjing is a well dug by Mao Zedong in 1933 together with the local people. A stone tablet beside the well bears the inscription, "When drinking water, never forget those who dug the well; always remember Chairman Mao," making it an important teaching resource for revolutionary education. The Second Soviet Congress site is the venue of the Second National Congress of the Chinese Soviet Republic, bearing witness to the further development of the Soviet regime.

The Yudu Memorial Park for the Departure of the Central Red Army on the Long March was built to commemorate the start of the Central Red Army's Long March. In October 1934, over 86,000 troops of the Central Red Army set out from the banks of the Yudu River, beginning the 25,000-li Long March. The memorial park features facilities such as the Monument to the Departure of the Central Red Army on the Long March, the Long March Ferry Crossing, and a memorial hall, serving as an important site for revolutionary tradition education and red tourism. The Xingguo Memorial Park for the Fine Work Style of Soviet Area Cadres showcases the exemplary conduct of Soviet area cadres, who "brought their own rations to work and visited poor peasants by lantern light at night," making it a key base for Party conduct education.

In recent years, Ganzhou has placed great emphasis on the protection, preservation, and utilization of red culture, successively issuing the "Regulations on the Protection of Revolutionary Sites in Ganzhou," implementing a project to preserve revolutionary slogans, and carrying out surveys, protection, and restoration of revolutionary cultural relics. At the same time, Ganzhou has actively promoted the integration of red tourism with rural revitalization and green development, creating a number of premium red tourism routes and bringing new vitality to red culture in the new era. According to statistics, in 2023, Ganzhou's red tourism received over 50 million visitors, with comprehensive red tourism revenue exceeding CNY 50 billion, making red culture a significant engine for Ganzhou's high-quality development.

X. Echoes of History: The Contemporary Value of Ganzhou's Revolutionary Spirit

Ganzhou's revolutionary history is a magnificent heroic epic and an inexhaustible spiritual treasure trove. From the early workers' movement to the founding of the Central Soviet Area, from the bloody battles of the counter-"encirclement and suppression" campaigns to the solemn departure of the Red Army's Long March, from strategic support during the War of Resistance against Japan to the triumphant victory of the War of Liberation, the people of southern Jiangxi, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, waged arduous and extraordinary struggles, making tremendous sacrifices and indelible contributions to the victory of the Chinese revolution.

At the core of Ganzhou's revolutionary spirit is the Soviet Area spirit of firm conviction, seeking truth from facts, wholehearted devotion to the people, integrity and honesty, hard work and perseverance, striving for excellence, and selfless dedication. This spirit is a concentrated embodiment of the political character and spiritual qualities of the Chinese Communists, and a profound integration of the Chinese national spirit and the spirit of the times. In the new era, the Soviet Area spirit still holds significant contemporary value. It inspires the people of Ganzhou to strengthen their ideals and convictions and to remain true to their original aspirations and mission. It inspires the people of Ganzhou to uphold a realistic and pragmatic approach and to boldly pursue reform and innovation; It inspires the people of Ganzhou to stay closely connected with the masses and serve the people wholeheartedly; It inspires the people of Ganzhou to maintain a spirit of hard work and perseverance, and to courageously overcome all difficulties and obstacles.

Today's Ganzhou, following in the footsteps of the revolutionary forebears, is inheriting the red genes and continuing the red lineage, accelerating the construction of a high-quality development demonstration zone in the old revolutionary base areas. The people of Ganzhou deeply understand that a happy life is hard-won and must be cherished all the more. The revolutionary traditions are invaluable and must be passed down from generation to generation. Standing at a new historical starting point, Ganzhou will advance with even greater vigor the cause pioneered by the revolutionary forebears, and on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, will write a new chapter of brilliance for Ganzhou.