The Victory Park for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression is located in the north of Chenyang Ancient City, 75 kilometers away from Huaihua City, covering an area of 38 mu. It is a provincial patriotism education base integrating cultural relics protection, cultural industry, tourism and recreation, and revolutionary tradition education, which was approved by the Publicity Department of the CPC Committee of Hunan Province. Wen Xuande, the former deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Hunan Province, personally inscribed the name of the park. In 2005, The Victory Park for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression was listed as one of the five excellent “red tourism” routes in Hunan.

In this park, there are more than 700 trees such as sycamore trees, black locust trees, pine and cypress trees, camphor trees, etc., as well as sweet-scented osmanthus, magnolia grandiflora, cedar, rohdea japonica, green bamboo, flowers and trees. An antique-style “Leshan Pavilion” is built on both sides of the park gate. In spring, when the flowers are blooming, the garden is covered with green trees and clusters of flowers, and people roam here and enjoy the fragrance of flowers in April; in the hot summer, people take a break from the summer heat and enjoy the coolness leisurely here; in autumn when it is clear and crisp, children fly kites in the square, which makes a unique childish fun; in the snowy winter, the old people do morning exercises in the square, which is a dazzling scene. The Victory Park for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression has attracted guests and friends from all over the world with its magical power since its opening.

There still preserve some “red tourism” scenic spots in this Victory Park, such as the “Victory Memorial Hall for Yuanling District Bandit Suppression”, the “Historical Data Exhibition Hall for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression”, the “Martyrs Monument for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression”, the “Stele Gallery with General Inscription” and the “Sculpture of People’s Liberation Army”, with more than 200 precious cultural relics. In 1952, Yuanling Commissioner’s Office (located in Chenxi County) built the “Victory Memorial Hall for Yuanling District Bandit Suppression” in the park. The names of the martyrs who died in the bandit suppression battle in Xiangxi were engraved on the stone tablets on both sides of the gate, and the park was renamed as the Victory Park for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said: “Countless revolutionary martyrs have exchanged blood and lives for the country”, which has laid a solid foundation for us to create a better life. The fine tradition they left behind is a precious treasure that will always inspire us to move forward, and can not be lost at any time. The heroic spirit of suppressing bandits in Xiangxi belongs not only to history, but also to the present and the future. In order to promote advanced culture, in 2002, the Chenxi Party Committee and government took the 50th anniversary of the victory of suppressing bandits in Xiangxi as an opportunity to create a cultural brand of suppressing bandits. In 2003, the “Historical Data Exhibition Hall for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression” was built, which was rated as a national 3-class museum in 2018, receiving 210,000 tourists for free every year. Over the past few years, more than 10 million yuan has been invested to expand the Victory Park and improve the park facilities. The construction of the exhibition hall, as well as the beautification and greening of the park, has been completed now, and the scenic spots such as the “Martyr Memorial Tower”, the Stele Gallery, the Monument Square have been built. Time passed quickly, with a flick of the finger.

More than 60 years have passed, but the people have not forgotten the glorious history of suppressing bandits in Xiangxi, and there are continuous films and literary works reflecting the struggle and victory of the bandit suppression in Xiangxi, such as the movie “Suppressing Bandits at Wulong Mountain”, the TV series “Suppressing Bandits at Wulong Mountain”, the novel “The King of the Mountain”, “Under the Wuling Mountain” and other literary works. In 2012, it was the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Bandit Suppression in Xiangxi. In order to commemorate the great achievements of heroes and martyrs, the Provincial Party Committee and the Municipal Party Committee agreed to add a monument to the martyrs of the Xiangxi Bandit Suppression in the Victory Park in Chenxi, which was personally inscribed by Chi Haotian, the former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense. In that year, the 60th anniversary commemoration of the victory of the Xiangxi Bandit Suppression was held. The commemorative activities included holding a 60th anniversary commemoration meeting of the victory of Xiangxi Bandit Suppression, setting up a museum, organizing an art show, holding a business promotion conference, organizing a monument unveiling event, holding an art festival of new pen drawing, and carrying out a group of key urban construction projects.

“A mountain can be famous with the presence of living saints regardless of its height; a river can be holy for residing dragons regardless of its depth.” Compared with the Chinese history of 5,000 years, the bandit suppression in Xiangxi was only an instant, but just in this instant it has achieved brilliant achievements and shocked the world with a far-reaching impact and great significance. Such a non-renewable cultural resource will definitely make it a cultural landmark of Chenxi.

 (Translated by Huang Yuanjun)