Benxi · History & Resistance

I. The Dawn of Civilization: Ancient Light by the Taizi River

The historical thread of Benxi can be traced back to the Paleolithic era. The Taizi River flows through the city from east to west. This "mother river" of the Liaodong Peninsula not only nourished the fertile lands along its banks but also, over vast geological ages, provided an ideal habitat for early humans. In 1981, archaeologists discovered an ancient human site at MiaoHoushan in Shanchengzi Village, Benxi Manchu Autonomous County. Carbon-14 dating placed it at approximately 400,000 years old, making it a typical early Paleolithic cave site. The MiaoHoushan site yielded chipped stone tools such as cores, flakes, and scrapers, along with fossils of ancient creatures like the thick-jawed deer and the Sanmen horse, proving that in the remote primordial age, early ancestors had already thrived and multiplied in the Benxi region.

Entering the Neolithic era, the cultural remains in the Benxi area became even more abundant. The Machengzi burial site, located in the upper reaches of the Taizi River, is an early Bronze Age cemetery dating back approximately 4,000 years. The pottery unearthed from the tombs is primarily sand-tempered reddish-brown ware, with vessel types including jars, pots, and bowls, and decorations featuring incised lines and applied ridges. Particularly precious are the small bronze artifacts, such as bronze knives and arrowheads, found in some tombs, indicating that the ancestors of Benxi had already mastered basic metal smelting techniques in the late Longshan culture period. These archaeological discoveries outline the clear trajectory of Benxi's evolution from primitiveness to civilization, and also laid the groundwork for the later rise of the Goguryeo mountain fortresses.

Notably, Benxi is situated in the mountainous and hilly region of eastern Liaoning, with undulating peaks, crisscrossing rivers, and a forest coverage rate as high as 76%. This relatively enclosed yet resource-rich geographical environment allowed early civilizations to develop and persist in a relatively stable state. Archaeological findings such as the Miaohoushan Site and Machengzi Cemetery not only fill the gap in research on ancient humans in the eastern Liaoning region, but also make Benxi a key node for exploring human migration and cultural diffusion in Northeast Asia.

II. Administrative Evolution: From Liaodong Commandery to Benxihu

The administrative establishment of Benxi can be traced back to the Warring States period. In the 12th year of King Zhao of Yan (300 BC), the Yan general Qin Kai repelled the Donghu people, expanding territory by a thousand li and establishing five commanderies: Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi, and Liaodong. At that time, the Benxi area was under the jurisdiction of Xiangping County in Liaodong Commandery, marking the beginning of Benxi's appearance on the map of the Central Plains regimes. After the Qin dynasty unified the six states and implemented the system of commanderies and counties, Benxi remained under Liaodong Commandery. During the Western and Eastern Han dynasties, the Benxi area was designated as a dependent state of Liaodong Commandery, where agriculture and iron smelting began to develop initially.

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Benxi region became a frontline repeatedly contested between Goguryeo and the Central Plains dynasties. At the end of the 3rd century AD, Goguryeo forces advanced westward and built a mountain fortress on Wunü Mountain in Huanren County, serving as their early capital, "Heshenggu City." Wunü Mountain Fortress was constructed following the mountain's terrain, with walls built from piled stones, stretching approximately 2500 meters in circumference, and the remains of its east, south, and west gates survive today. Within the fortress, large building foundations, reservoirs, watchtowers, and other relics have been discovered, showcasing the typical layout of early Goguryeo mountain fortresses. Subsequently, the Benxi region successively came under the rule of the Northern Yan, Northern Wei, Sui, and Tang dynasties, until the first year of the Zongzhang era of the Tang Dynasty (668 AD), when Tang forces captured Pyongyang, leading to the fall of Goguryeo, and the Benxi region was formally placed under the jurisdiction of the Andong Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty.

During the Liao and Jin dynasties, the administrative structure of the Benxi region became more stable. In the Liao Dynasty, the Dongjing Circuit Liaoyang Prefecture was established here, and the Jin Dynasty followed the Liao system. In the Yuan Dynasty, the provincial system was implemented, and Benxi fell under the Liaoyang Route of the Liaoyang Province. In the Ming Dynasty, the Benxi region belonged to the Dongning Guard of the Liaodong Regional Military Commission, with military institutions such as the Caohe Thousand Household Station. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Benxi region was under the Liaoyang Prefecture of Fengtian Prefecture. In the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1735), due to the abundant coal and iron ore deposits in Benxi Lake, the Qing court established the Benxi Lake Patrol Office here, marking the first time "Benxi" appeared as a place name in official documents. In the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign (1906), parts of eastern Liaoyang Prefecture and northern Fenghuang Hall were separated to formally establish Benxi County, with the county seat located at Benxi Lake.

III. Ming-Qing Guard Posts and Ancient Fortresses: Military Strongholds on the Liaodong Border Wall

During the Ming Dynasty, to defend against invasions by the Mongol Uriankhai and Jurchen tribes, a Liaodong Border Wall stretching over 2,350 li was constructed in the Liaodong region. The Benxi area lay along the eastern section of the Liaodong Border Wall, where numerous guard posts, fortress towns, and beacon towers were established, forming a dense military defense system. According to the Ming Veritable Records and the Records of Liaodong, military outposts such as Caohe Qianhusuo, Qinghe Fort, Jianchang Fort, and Yiduqiang Fort were established within Benxi's territory.

Qinghe Fort, located in present-day Qinghecheng Town, Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, was an important fortress on the eastern section of the Liaodong Border Wall. The fortress was square in plan, with a perimeter of approximately 1,500 meters, and its walls were built with rammed earth faced with brick. The southern gate ruins and partial wall foundations survive today. Qinghe Fort guarded the upper valley of the Taizi River, serving as a vital thoroughfare connecting Liaoyang and the Six Forts of Kuandian. During the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, to resist incursions by the Jurchen Wang Gao tribe, the Ming court repeatedly reinforced Qinghe Fort with additional troops and constructed branch sections of the border wall leading to Jianchang Fort and Yiduqiang Fort. The Jianchang Fortress Ruins are located in present-day Jianchang Town, Benxi County. The fortress is built against the mountain and beside the river, with surviving remains of two city gates on the east and west sides. Inside the fortress are relics from the Ming Dynasty, including a well and a millstone. Yiduoqiang Fortress is located in present-day Dongyingfang Township, Benxi County. It earned its name because the border wall here consists of only a single wall. The surviving section of the Ming Dynasty border wall stands about 3 meters high, with clearly visible layers of rammed earth.

These garrison posts and ancient fortresses were not only military defense installations but also a vital part of the Ming Dynasty's agricultural colonization system in Liaodong. The fortresses housed military granaries, stables, and blacksmith shops. The stationed troops were both soldiers and farmers—defending in times of war and cultivating the land in times of peace. After the Qing army entered the pass, the military function of the Liaodong border wall gradually weakened, yet these ancient fortress ruins still silently testify to Benxi's historical status as a key frontier town in northeastern China during the Ming Dynasty. Today, sites such as Qinghe Fortress and Jianchang Fortress have been designated as cultural heritage protection units, serving as important physical evidence for studying the Ming Dynasty's military defense system in Liaodong.

IV. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and Liaodong: Benxi's Position in the Historical Map

When mentioning the "Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun," people often recall the historical event during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period when Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Khitan. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were roughly located in the area of present-day Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Shanxi, and did not include the Liaodong region. However, the Liaodong Peninsula, where Benxi is situated, had intricate connections with the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun during the Liao and Jin dynasties. During the Liao Dynasty, the system of five capitals was implemented, with the Eastern Capital Liaoyang Prefecture governing the Liaodong region, and Benxi falling within its jurisdiction. The Liao rulers relocated large numbers of Han Chinese and Bohai people from the Central Plains to Liaodong, making the Benxi area a stage for multi-ethnic integration.

After the Jin Dynasty conquered the Liao, the Benxi area came under the jurisdiction of Liaoyang Prefecture in the Eastern Capital Circuit. During the Dading reign of Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty, to strengthen control over Liaodong, the Jin court established the Eastern Capital Circuit Military Governor's Office in Liaoyang, further elevating the military status of the Benxi area. In the Yuan Dynasty, Benxi belonged to Liaoyang Route of the Liaoyang Province, with post stations such as Puhe and Yilu established to ensure transportation between Liaoyang and Kaiyuan. It can be said that although Benxi was not within the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, as the hinterland of the Liaodong region, its strategic position echoed that of the Yanyun area, together forming an important pivot for Central Plains dynasties in managing the Northeast.

Geographically, Benxi lies in the transitional zone between the Liaodong mountains and the Liaohe Plain, with the Taizi River and Hunjiang River systems flowing through its entire territory. This geographical layout of mountains and rivers gave Benxi a natural advantage of "able to advance when attacking and retreat when defending" in military defense throughout successive dynasties. Whether it was the Wunü Mountain Fortress from the Goguryeo period or the Qinghe Fort from the Ming Dynasty, both fully utilized this topographical feature. Historians point out that Benxi's position in the frontier history of the Northeast is more akin to a "key to Liaodong"—serving both as a bridgehead for the spread of Central Plains culture into the Northeast and as a frontline for southern expeditions by northeastern minority regimes.

5. Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Pavilions: Landmarks Through Time

Scattered among Benxi's mountains and waters are numerous ancient cities, pagodas, and pavilions, standing like frozen chronicles that record the vicissitudes of this land. Wunü Mountain City is undoubtedly the most dazzling jewel among them. This World Cultural Heritage site sits atop Wunü Mountain in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, at an elevation of 820 meters, surrounded by water on three sides and connected to mountains on one. The mountain city was built following the terrain, with walls constructed from wedge-shaped stones dry-stacked without mortar; the existing walls total approximately 2,500 meters in length. The large palace ruins, sentry post remains, and reservoirs discovered within the city attest to the splendor of the early Goguryeo capital. Ascending Wunü Mountain, visitors can overlook the vast blue waves of Huanlong Lake, and in autumn the maple leaves blaze like fire—history and nature blend perfectly here.

Benxi Lake Ancient Pagoda, located in Xihu District of Benxi City, was first built during the Liao Dynasty and underwent renovations in subsequent dynasties. The pagoda is an octagonal, thirteen-tiered, dense-eaved solid brick structure standing about 18 meters tall, adorned with relief carvings of Buddha figures, flying apsaras, and lotus motifs that, though weathered by a thousand years of wind and rain, remain faintly discernible. The Benxi Lake Ancient Pagoda is an important testament to the spread of Liao Dynasty Buddhist culture in the Benxi region and stands as the oldest surviving above-ground structure in Benxi's urban area. At sunset, the silhouette of the ancient pagoda and the shimmering reflections on the lake create a picturesque scene, making it an irreplaceable landmark of nostalgia in the hearts of Benxi residents.

The Tiecha Mountain Ancient Temple Complex, located in Nandian Town, Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, is one of the birthplaces of Taoism in Northeast China. Tiecha Mountain is composed of five peaks—Yuanshi, Zhenwu, Lingbao, Yuhuang, and Xuanwu—named for their resemblance to a blooming lotus flower. The mountain preserves Taoist relics such as Babao Yunguang Cave and Qiankun Cave, with Babao Yunguang Cave traditionally said to be the cultivation site of Guo Shouzhen, a Taoist priest of the Ming Dynasty. Guo Shouzhen founded Tiecha Mountain Taoism during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, later spreading his teachings to Qianshan, Shenyang Taiqing Palace, and beyond, earning Tiecha Mountain the title "Ancestral Court of Taoism in Northeast China." The ancient temples, stone inscriptions, and cliff carvings on the mountain document the spread and development of Taoism in the Liaodong region, adding a rich layer of religious culture to Benxi.

VI. Hometown of Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Living Legacy of Manchu Paper-Cutting and Folk Art

Benxi is a region with a significant Manchu population, with Manchu people accounting for over 30% of the city's total population. Through centuries of historical development, Manchu ancestors created a rich variety of folk arts, among which Manchu paper-cutting is the most representative intangible cultural heritage. Benxi Manchu paper-cutting originates from the Qing Dynasty Manchu folk custom of "cutting window flowers," characterized by bold and rugged forms, vivid and striking colors, with themes drawn from Manchu myths and legends, shamanic rituals, and fishing and hunting life. In 2008, Benxi Manchu paper-cutting was inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list.

Liu Guizhi, a representative inheritor of Benxi Manchu paper-cutting, learned the craft from her grandmother in childhood, and her works such as "Shaman Spirit Idols" and "White Mountains and Black Waters" have won awards at numerous domestic exhibitions. She pioneered the "cutting and carving" technique, blending paper-cutting with hollow-out engraving to give her works greater three-dimensionality and depth. In Pingshan District of Benxi City, a Manchu paper-cutting training institute has been established, regularly holding classes to pass down this ancient craft from generation to generation. During the Spring Festival or festive occasions, Benxi Manchu families still maintain the custom of pasting window decorations, with bright red paper-cuts reflecting smiling faces, becoming the warmest scene in the mountain city.

Beyond paper-cutting, Benxi also boasts multiple intangible cultural heritage items, including Huanren woodblock prints, Benxi storytelling, and Korean peasant dance. Huanren woodblock prints originated in the 1960s, primarily in the form of woodcut prints, with themes depicting the landscapes of eastern Liaoning and Manchu village customs, earning the area the title of "Hometown of Woodblock Prints in Eastern Liaoning." Benxi storytelling is rooted in teahouse culture, where performers use a wooden clapper and folding fan as props, combining narration with performance, and it is deeply loved by the public. These intangible heritage items together form Benxi's diverse and multi-dimensional folk cultural ecosystem, showcasing the mountain city residents' love for and pursuit of a better life.

VII. The Code of Castle Architecture: Stone Masonry Techniques and Defensive Wisdom

The ancient castle architecture in the Benxi region epitomizes the exceptional wisdom of ancient craftsmen in stonework and military defense. Take Wunü Mountain City as an example: its walls were built using the dry-stone technique, with no mortar whatsoever, relying solely on the interlocking of stones to ensure structural stability. This craft demanded extremely high standards in stone selection and processing—craftsmen had to shape stones into regular wedge forms and then layer them, allowing the wall to taper slightly from bottom to top, forming a stable trapezoidal cross-section. The tallest section of Wunü Mountain City's walls reaches 6 meters, and after over two thousand years of wind and rain, they still stand proudly—a marvel in the history of ancient architecture.

The Ming Dynasty fortresses such as Qinghe Fort and Jianchang Fort, however, showcase a different defensive philosophy. These forts were typically sited at strategic river valley crossings, with square or rectangular layouts. Their walls featured rammed earth cores clad in gray brick, corner towers at each of the four corners, and moats dug outside the walls. Each fort had east and west gates, topped with gate towers for lookout and shooting purposes. Inside, streets were laid out in a cross pattern, with a drum tower at the center serving as the command hub. This integrated defense system of "city-wall, moat, tower, and ditch" reflects the mature level of Ming Dynasty military engineering.

Notably, the siting of Benxi's ancient forts often balanced both military defense and daily livelihood needs. The fortress towns are mostly nestled between mountains and rivers, leveraging the terrain to enhance defense while having convenient access to water sources and arable land. Inside the fortresses, facilities such as wells, granaries, and blacksmith shops were established, ensuring that garrisons could hold out for extended periods during sieges. This architectural wisdom, which organically integrates military functions with civilian needs, is still referenced by modern urban planning today.

8. Living Heritage: Historical Memory Integrated into Contemporary Life

In Benxi, history is not a cold exhibit sealed in museums but a living heritage woven into the city's fabric. The Benxi City Museum houses precious artifacts including stone tools unearthed from the Miaohoushan Site, bronze ware from the Machengzi Cemetery, and Goguryeo pottery from the Wunü Mountain Fortress, receiving over 200,000 visitors annually. The museum also regularly hosts activities such as "Little Docents" training and artifact rubbing experiences, allowing young people to feel the warmth of history through hands-on engagement.

The Benxi Lake Industrial Heritage Cluster is another significant historical landmark. Once the birthplace of the Benxi Iron and Steel Company, it preserves industrial relics including the Benxi Lake Coal and Iron Company site, first built in 1905, and the No. 1 blast furnace completed in 1915. In 2013, the Benxi Lake Industrial Heritage Cluster was designated a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. Today, these rust-covered blast furnaces and factory buildings, after renovation and restoration, have been transformed into industrial museums and cultural and creative parks, telling visitors the century-long industrial legend of Benxi as the "City of Coal and Iron."

At the grassroots level, the people of Benxi continue to preserve historical memory through various means. Every year on the 18th day of the fourth lunar month, the Manchu people of Benxi hold a temple fair at Tiesha Mountain to worship the mountain god and pray for blessings and good fortune. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boat racing events are held on the Taizi River, recreating the scenes of ancient naval drills. And the time-honored shops scattered across urban and rural areas, such as Xiaoshi Mutton Soup Restaurant and Benxi Lake Distillery, use the inheritance of taste and aroma to make history tangible and perceptible. This living heritage makes Benxi's history not a distant past, but a vivid presence closely connected to contemporary life.

IX. Echoes of History: The Relay of Civilization from a Mountain City to a Modern Metropolis

Looking back at Benxi's historical trajectory spanning thousands of years, from the ancient campfires of Miaohou Mountain to the Goguryeo royal city on Wunü Mountain, from the Ming Dynasty's Liaodong border walls to the modern coal and iron industry, this land has always maintained a resilient and open cultural character. The stone masonry techniques of the Goguryeo mountain fortresses were inherited and innovated upon by later craftsmen. The defensive wisdom of the Ming Dynasty border walls transformed into the enterprising spirit of modern industry. The rugged aesthetics of Manchu paper-cutting are integrated into the design language of modern art. This continuation of historical genes ensures that Benxi retains its unique spiritual character throughout the process of modernization.

Today's Benxi is both a renowned historical and cultural city with world cultural heritage and a vibrant modern industrial city. Along the banks of the Taizi River, high-rise buildings and ancient castle ruins stand facing each other across the water. Inside the Benxi Water Cave, stalactites formed over hundreds of millions of years shine in harmony with modern lighting. History has not become a burden but has been transformed into a cultural driving force for urban development. As a Benxi cultural scholar once said: "Benxi's history is not written on paper but carved in stone and integrated into the bloodline." This deep and enduring historical resonance will inspire a new generation of Benxi people to continue writing the future chapters of this mountain city.

Sparks of Revolution: The May Fourth Movement and the Awakening of Benxi's Working Class

The modern revolutionary history of Benxi began with the awakening and resistance of the working class in the early 20th century. As an important coal and iron industrial base in Northeast China, Benxi had already gathered a large number of industrial workers by the early 20th century. Most of these workers were bankrupt peasants from Shandong, Hebei, and other provinces, who toiled at mines such as the Benxihu Coal Mine and Miao'ergou Iron Mine, enduring the dual oppression of imperialist capital and feudal labor contractors. After the May Fourth Movement broke out in 1919, the wave of anti-imperialist patriotism quickly spread to Northeast China. Workers and students in Benxi responded actively, holding rallies and demonstrations to show solidarity with the patriotic actions of Beijing students. This event marked the beginning of the awakening of national and class consciousness among the people of Benxi, laying the ideological foundation for the development of the revolutionary movement in the city.

After the founding of the Communist Party of China, the workers' movement in Northeast China flourished under the Party's leadership. In 1927, the Manchuria Provincial Committee of the CPC was established, and revolutionary activities in the Benxi area gradually came under the unified leadership of the Party. Workers at the Benxihu Coal Mine, mobilized by the Party's underground organizations, launched multiple strikes demanding improved working conditions and higher wages. Although these strikes were repeatedly suppressed by the reactionary authorities, they greatly tempered the fighting will of the working class and cultivated a group of revolutionary backbone cadres. Meanwhile, the Party also began establishing grassroots organizations in rural areas around Benxi, mobilizing peasants to launch rent- and tax-resistance struggles, sowing the seeds of revolution across the vast Liaodong mountain region. By the eve of the September 18th Incident, Benxi had formed a revolutionary struggle structure centered on the workers' movement and supplemented by the peasants' movement, reserving valuable vital forces for the impending anti-Japanese flames.

Liberation and Enlistment: The Prelude to Benxi's Anti-Japanese Resistance After the September 18th Incident

On September 18, 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army brazenly launched the September 18th Incident, and the three northeastern provinces quickly fell. As a key producer of coal and iron resources, Benxi became a primary target for Japanese occupation. On September 19, Japanese troops occupied the Benxihu area, took over industrial enterprises such as the Benxihu Coal and Iron Company, and carried out frenzied predatory extraction of Benxi's resources. Facing the bitter reality of a shattered land and lost homes, the people of Benxi were not intimidated but swiftly ignited a wave of resistance against the invasion. Some miners, peasants, and students with national integrity spontaneously organized themselves, forming anti-Japanese volunteer armies that used the complex terrain of the Liaodong mountains to wage guerrilla warfare against the Japanese forces. Though these volunteer units were poorly equipped and lacked training, they dealt heavy blows to the Japanese army through their familiarity with the terrain and their steadfast belief in defending their homeland.

At the same time, the Chinese Communist Party's anti-Japanese activities in the Benxi area also rapidly unfolded. Around 1932, the Manchuria Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China successively dispatched cadres to penetrate the rural areas of Benxi, mobilizing the masses and organizing anti-Japanese armed forces. During this period, multiple anti-Japanese guerrilla units led by Communists emerged in the Benxi region. They went deep into villages, spread the message of resisting Japan and saving the nation, established anti-Japanese mass organizations, and opened up several anti-Japanese guerrilla base areas. Most of these guerrilla units were later incorporated into the Northeast People's Revolutionary Army, and subsequently became an important component of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army. The vast number of young people in the Benxi region enthusiastically enlisted in the army, giving rise to touching scenes of mothers sending off their sons and wives sending off their husbands. According to statistics, at the peak of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, there were as many as several thousand Benxi-born soldiers in the ranks. They fought across the foothills of Changbai Mountain and along the banks of the Taizi River, writing a magnificent prelude to Benxi's war of resistance with their blood and lives.

Anti-Japanese Democratic Regime: The Creation and Consolidation of the Laotudingzi Base Area

In 1934, the Independent Division of the First Army of the Northeast People's Revolutionary Army, led by Yang Jingyu, entered the Benxi region and established an anti-Japanese guerrilla base area centered on Laotudingzi Mountain. Laotudingzi Mountain, at an elevation of 1367 meters, is the highest peak in Liaoning. With its dense forests, rugged terrain, and natural defensive advantages, it was an ideal stronghold for anti-Japanese guerrilla operations. After entering Benxi, Yang Jingyu's forces extensively mobilized the masses, establishing mass organizations such as anti-Japanese salvation associations and peasant self-defense corps. They also implemented rent and interest reduction policies within the base area, winning broad support and endorsement from local farmers. In 1936, the First Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army was formally established, with Yang Jingyu serving as both commander and political commissar. The Laotudingzi area in Benxi became a key operational zone for the First Army. The Anti-Japanese United Army units, using Laotudingzi as their main base, launched frequent attacks, striking at Japanese and puppet force strongholds and disrupting transportation lines, exhausting the Japanese troops.

Alongside military struggles, the Anti-Japanese United Army also placed great emphasis on building political power in the base areas. They established multiple district-level anti-Japanese democratic governments in the areas surrounding Laotudingzi, responsible for collecting grain and funds, organizing production, mobilizing enlistment, and eliminating traitors and secret agents. Although these governments operated in a mobile state, they played an irreplaceable role in organizing and mobilizing the masses. The establishment of the anti-Japanese democratic governments gave the people in the base areas a sense of backbone, and their enthusiasm for production and support for the front reached unprecedented heights. Farmers actively raised grain and funds for the Anti-Japanese United Army, passed on intelligence, and sheltered wounded soldiers, creating a vivid scene of military-civilian unity in the common fight against Japan. The creation and consolidation of the Laotudingzi base not only provided solid rear support for the anti-Japanese struggle in the Benxi region but also offered valuable experience for building anti-Japanese base areas elsewhere in Northeast China.

Famous Battle: The Motianling Ambush and a Classic Example of the Anti-Japanese War in Eastern Liaoning

In the anti-Japanese struggle in the Benxi region, the Motianling Ambush stands as a highly representative classic battle example. In the spring of 1936, a unit of the First Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army set up an ambush near Motianling in Benxi County, preparing to attack a Japanese military transport convoy. Motian Ridge is located at the border between Benxi and Liaoyang, with steep mountains and winding roads, making it an ideal ambush site. The Anti-Japanese United Army, with the cooperation of local residents, laid in ambush in advance in the forests on both sides of the road. When the Japanese convoy entered the ambush zone, the Anti-Japanese United Army launched a sudden attack, with machine guns, rifles, and grenades firing simultaneously, catching the Japanese troops completely off guard. After fierce fighting, the Anti-Japanese United Army destroyed several Japanese military vehicles, killed and wounded dozens of Japanese soldiers, and seized a batch of weapons, ammunition, and military supplies. The victory of this ambush not only dealt a blow to the arrogance of the Japanese troops but also greatly boosted the anti-Japanese confidence of the military and civilians in the Benxi region.

In addition to the Motian Ridge ambush, the Anti-Japanese United Army also fought several other important battles in the Benxi area. In 1937, the First Army of the Anti-Japanese United Army engaged in fierce combat with Japanese and puppet troops near Dashi Lake in Benxi County, killing and wounding over 100 enemy soldiers. In 1938, the Anti-Japanese United Army attacked the Japanese garrison in the Benxihu area, destroying enemy military facilities. Although these battles were relatively small in scale, accumulating small victories into major ones, they effectively pinned down Japanese forces and supported the overall national war of resistance. It is worth noting that the battles fought by the Anti-Japanese United Army in the Benxi region always received strong support from the local population. The masses served as guides for the anti-Japanese coalition forces, relayed intelligence, and helped cover their movements, enabling the troops to remain agile and repeatedly thwart the enemy despite the heavy encirclement and suppression by Japanese and puppet forces. The deep bond between the military and the people, as close as fish and water, was the fundamental guarantee for Benxi's resistance to endure over the long term and ultimately achieve victory.

Coordinating with the Nationwide War: Benxi's Resistance in Concert with the National Anti-Japanese Effort

The anti-Japanese struggle in the Benxi region was always closely linked to the overall national war of resistance. After the July 7th Incident in 1937, when the full-scale war of resistance broke out, the struggle of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Coalition forces became an important part of the national resistance. Under extremely harsh conditions, the coalition forces in the Benxi region persisted in guerrilla warfare, tying down a large number of Japanese troops and effectively supporting the main battlefield operations within the passes. The coalition forces repeatedly sabotaged railways, bridges, and mining facilities in the Benxi area, thwarting Japanese plans to plunder Benxi's resources time and again. At the same time, the coalition forces actively carried out propaganda work, spreading news of the resistance to the masses and inspiring patriotic fervor, keeping the fighting spirit in the Benxi region high throughout.

In the process of coordinating with the national war of resistance, the Party organizations and coalition forces in the Benxi region also undertook important intelligence gathering and transmission tasks. Leveraging Benxi's strategic location along major transport routes, they established intelligence networks in both towns and villages, promptly obtaining information on enemy troop deployments and military movements, and passing it on to higher-level organizations through secret channels. This intelligence provided important references for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army headquarters and even the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in formulating strategic decisions. In addition, the Benxi region also supplied a large number of soldiers and materials to the Anti-Japanese United Army units. According to incomplete statistics, during the fourteen years of the War of Resistance, the Benxi region sent thousands of soldiers to the Anti-Japanese United Army and raised hundreds of thousands of jin of grain, becoming one of the important rear bases for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army's sustained struggle. The coordinated response between Benxi's resistance efforts and the nationwide War of Resistance fully demonstrated the Chinese nation's unwavering will to unite against foreign aggression.

Supporting the Front and Liberation: Benxi's Strength in the War of Liberation

On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender, and the people of Benxi welcomed the great victory of the War of Resistance against Japan. However, the victory of the War of Resistance did not immediately bring peace and tranquility. The reactionary Kuomintang, with the support of the United States, actively prepared to launch a civil war, attempting to seize the strategic region of Northeast China. As a major industrial city in Northeast China, Benxi became an important target of contention between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. In September 1945, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made the strategic decision to "develop northward and defend southward," dispatching large numbers of cadres and troops to advance into Northeast China. The Party organizations in the Benxi region swiftly mobilized, rallying the masses to establish people's armed forces, coordinating with the main forces to take over Benxi, and establishing the democratic government of Benxi City.

During the War of Liberation, the people of Benxi devoted themselves with great enthusiasm to supporting the front lines. Farmers eagerly delivered grain and funds, organizing stretcher teams and transport units to support frontline operations. Workers in Benxi stepped up production, repairing mines and factories damaged by the war, supplying the People's Liberation Army with weapons, ammunition, and military provisions. According to statistics, during the Liaoshen Campaign, the Benxi region dispatched tens of thousands of civilian support workers and raised millions of jin of grain, making significant contributions to the victory of the campaign. In October 1948, all of Benxi was liberated, returning to the embrace of the people. The liberation of Benxi marked the beginning of a new historical era for this coal-and-iron city that had endured so much hardship. From the War of Resistance to liberation, the people of Benxi, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, endured arduous struggles and finally welcomed a bright future.

Base Area Construction: Logistics Support and Mass Work of the Anti-Japanese United Army

The construction of anti-Japanese base areas such as Laotudingzi was reflected not only in military struggles but also in all aspects of logistics support and mass work. In terms of logistical support, the Anti-Japanese United Army established multiple secret camps within the base areas to store grain, ammunition, clothing, and other supplies. These secret camps were mostly built deep in the mountains and dense forests, making them extremely well-concealed, and the Japanese army's repeated mountain searches and encirclement campaigns failed to discover them. The local people in the base areas also organized themselves voluntarily to sew military shoes and uniforms, process grain, and make dry rations for the Anti-Japanese United Army. During the harsh winter, the people risked their lives to cross Japanese blockade lines to deliver cold-weather supplies and provisions to the Anti-Japanese United Army in the mountains, ensuring the troops' survival and combat effectiveness.

In terms of mass work, the Anti-Japanese United Army and the Party organizations in the base areas always put the interests of the people first. They helped the people solve practical difficulties in production and daily life, organized mutual aid in production, and developed the economy of the base areas. At the same time, the Anti-Japanese United Army placed great emphasis on the ideological education of the masses, using methods such as holding mass meetings, posting slogans, and performing cultural programs to spread the message of resisting Japan and saving the nation, thereby raising the people's political awareness. Under the influence of the Anti-Japanese United Army, many young men and women in the base areas actively volunteered to join the army and fight, giving rise to moving stories of entire families enlisting and fathers and sons serving together. The logistical support and mass work in the construction of the base areas were vital pillars that enabled the Anti-Japanese United Army to sustain its long-term struggle, and they vividly embodied the Chinese Communist Party's mass line in the practice of the War of Resistance.

Portraits of Heroes: The Brave Sons and Daughters of Benxi in the War of Resistance

In the history of the War of Resistance in Benxi, countless heroic figures emerged whose stories evoke both admiration and tears. Although General Yang Jingyu was not a native of Benxi, he led the First Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in battles across the Benxi region for many years, forging a deep bond of mutual support with the people of Benxi. He commanded numerous battles in the Laotudingzi area, dealing heavy blows to the Japanese puppet forces. In 1940, after Yang Jingyu died a heroic martyr's death in Mengjiang County (now Jingyu County), the people of Benxi deeply mourned this great national hero of the anti-Japanese resistance. Among the anti-Japanese heroes from Benxi were Company Commander Li Hongguang, who fought valiantly in the Motianling ambush, and Zhao Yiman, a female courier who worked underground behind enemy lines and remained unyielding after being captured (though not a native of Benxi, she had operated in the Benxi area), as well as countless unnamed martyrs who fell on the anti-Japanese battlefields. Unknown martyrs. Their names may have faded with time, but their spirit is forever etched into the mountains and rivers of Benxi.

Beyond the frontline fighters, the War of Resistance in Benxi also saw many unsung heroes who made quiet contributions on the home front. Among them were couriers who risked their lives to deliver intelligence to the Anti-Japanese United Army, villagers who sheltered wounded soldiers at great personal peril, and workers and intellectuals who upheld their national integrity under Japanese puppet rule. It was the bravery and resilience of these ordinary people that converged into the mighty force of Benxi's resistance against Japanese aggression. The people of Benxi will never forget the sacrifice and dedication of these heroic sons and daughters; their stories have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming the most moving chapter in Benxi's red culture. Heroes are not defined by their origins; their spirit forever inspires future generations. The patriotism and national integrity embodied by the collective portraits of Benxi's anti-Japanese war heroes are the most precious spiritual legacy left to the people of Benxi.

Memory and Commemoration: Preservation of Anti-Japanese War Sites and the Inheritance of Red Culture

Benxi City places great emphasis on the preservation of anti-Japanese war sites and the inheritance of red culture. Important anti-Japanese war sites such as the Laotudingzi Anti-Japanese United Army Secret Camp Site, the Motianling Ambush Battle Site, and the Benxihu Coal Mine Strike Site have been designated as cultural relics protection units at various levels, receiving proper protection and restoration. Benxi City has established an Anti-Japanese United Army Memorial Hall on Laotudingzi Mountain, which comprehensively showcases the combat history and heroic deeds of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in the Benxi region through artifacts, photographs, documents, and other forms. The memorial hall receives a large number of visitors each year and has become an important base for patriotic education. In addition, Benxi City has organized a series of activities including oral history interviews with anti-Japanese war veterans, surveys of anti-Japanese war sites, and red culture themed exhibitions, delving deeply into the historical details and spiritual connotations of Benxi's anti-Japanese war efforts.

In terms of red culture inheritance, Benxi City has integrated anti-Japanese war history into primary and secondary school curricula, organizing young students to visit anti-Japanese war sites and listen to war stories, ensuring that the red gene is passed down from generation to generation. Meanwhile, Benxi City has also actively promoted the integrated development of red culture and the tourism industry, launching multiple red tourism routes that combine anti-Japanese war sites with natural scenery and folk culture, allowing visitors to receive red education and appreciate the spirit of the War of Resistance during their travels. Memory serves to move forward better, and commemoration is meant to forever remember. The people of Benxi will forever remember those war-torn years, inherit and carry forward the glorious traditions of the anti-Japanese predecessors, and continue writing a new chapter of Benxi's revitalization and development on the journey of the new era.