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Chang Hsueh-liang's Former Residence to Be Restored
In memory of the Xi'an Incident, China will restore a former residence of Mr. Chang Hsueh-liang in northwest Shaanxi Province. The principal part of the project is expected to be completed before December 12 this year to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Xi'an Incident.
The residence, consisting of 12 rooms, is located in Xinglong Hill in Wangqu Township, Chang's base for army officers training in 1936. In front of the rooms there is a 1.86-hectare forested area in which Chang held military meetings and conducted other activities.
According to historical records, Chang and General Yang Hucheng arrested Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the then Kuomintang regime, on December 12, 1936 and forced him to sign an agreement to end the civil war and start co-ordinated resistance with the Communist forces against the Japanese Aggression (the War of Resistance Against Japanese from 1937 to 1945). This is the famous Xi'an Incident in China's history.
The Xi'an Incident is regarded as giving a great boost to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and General Chang Huseh-liang was regarded as an important figure and great compatriot in China's history.
The former general died of an illness at his residence in Hawaii, the United States, on October 14, 2001. Chinese president Jiang Zemin described him as a "great patriot" in his message of condolence to relatives of the former general, saying Chang had made historic contributions to "ending the 10-year (1927-1937) civil war, helping realize the second cooperation between the Kuomintang and the CPC, and making the whole nation take part in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression."
The CPC and the Chinese people will always cherish the memory of Chang Hsueh-liang.
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