THE popular Gankeng Hakka Town in Longgang District used to be a village where Hakka people lived more than 350 years ago. With many old Hakka buildings still preserved, Gankeng is regarded as one of the 10 old Hakka villages in Shenzhen. Now, the town has become a comprehensive scenic spot for visitors to experience Hakka culture and folk customs and taste various delicacies there.

In the early 1900s, bandits and thieves were rampant in Gankeng and after several fights between villagers and bandits, the Gankeng Blockhouse was built by Peng Zhenfang, a well-off villager, in 1921 as a shelter for villagers.

During the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945), Zeng Sheng, chief commander of the Huibao People’s Guerrilla Against Japanese Aggression (former Dongjiang Column of Guangdong People’s Guerrilla Against Japanese Aggression), encouraged Gankeng people to join the Communist Party of China and fight against Japanese invaders.

When Zeng was injured in a battle, he received medical treatment in Gankeng secretly and during the war, eight villagers-turned-soldiers from Gankeng sacrificed their lives and were titled martyrs.

Later, the Dongjiang Column helped villages in Shenzhen to form guarding troops and in Gankeng, a troop of more than 10 villagers had transmitted intelligence information many times to Chinese guerrillas.

The Gankeng Blockhouse embodies Gankeng Hakka people’s indomitable spirit to resist foreign aggression. (Cao Zhen)