The Former Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army Deng Hua Brigade is a protected cultural heritage site located in the Mentougou District of Beijing.
The historical site of the former headquarters is situated in the Nie Family Courtyard in Xizhaitang Village, Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District. It is classified as a district-level cultural heritage protection unit.
In November 1937, after the establishment of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, the first brigade’s political commissar, Deng Hua, was ordered to lead the third battalion of the first brigade to open up Pingxi and establish an anti-Japanese base behind enemy lines, preparing for the Hebei East uprising. In February 1938, Deng Hua’s third battalion set out from Laiyuan, passing through Bancheng in Lai County, Yesanpo in Zhuoxian, and entered Zhaitangchuan in Pingxi. Deng Hua’s headquarters was located in Nie Family Courtyard in Xizhaitang Village.
Deng’s brigade established the first anti-Japanese democratic government in the Beijing suburbs at Dongzhaitang Village—Wanping County Government. Shortly afterward, the local Communist Party organization, the Pingxi Local Work Committee, was founded. A vigorous anti-Japanese movement was launched, and the Pingxi base gradually expanded into surrounding areas. To the northwest, Deng’s brigade’s first regiment captured enemy strongholds in locations such as Fanshanbao in Huailai, Taohuabao in Yu County, and Jinshuikou in Laiyuan. The second regiment advanced towards Tuoliche Station in Fangshan, forcing several armed enemies to surrender, which dealt a blow to the enemy’s local forces. Deng’s brigade also established joint county governments in places like Zishi Kou and Xiejia Bao.
In May 1938, the Song Brigade from Yanchi and Taohuabao in Yu County joined Deng Hua’s brigade at Zhaitangchuan to form the Fourth Column of the Eighth Route Army. By June, the combined forces of the Song and Deng brigades advanced into eastern Hebei, with the Fifth Brigade taking over Zhaitangchuan. In October, Deng Hua led his troops back to the Zhaitang region, with the main objective of expanding westward from the southeast, linking the Pingxi area with the border area, and consolidating and expanding the Pingxi anti-Japanese base. Deng Hua and his brigade re-entered Pingxi, recovering key villages like Dongxi Zhaitang, Shangxia Qingshui, Malan, Junxiang, Dujiazhuang, and Qingbaikou. They expanded the base area, opening up regions such as Sanpo District, Fangshan, and Jiangshuihe, while eliminating reactionary local militia.
Simultaneously, Deng Hua and his brigade worked on building the party, establishing a government, and mobilizing the masses, ultimately creating a preliminary anti-Japanese base centered around Zhaitangchuan.
The site of Deng Hua’s former headquarters—Nie Family Courtyard—is a traditional Qing Dynasty folk building, oriented north to south. It is rectangular in shape, measuring approximately 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. The original structure has been altered over time, with only the gatehouse remaining intact.
Phoenix Lee https://chinese-tradition.com/former-headquarters-of-eighth-route-army-deng-hua-brigade-beijing-historical-site.html