Xi Zhongxun was one of the founders of the Revolutionary Base Area of the Northwest. In 1926, he joined the Chinese Communist Youth League at the age of 13. At that time, student, peasant, and military demonstrations were numerous. While imprisoned, Xi became an official member of the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) in 1928.
In 1930, Xi joined Yang Hucheng’s（楊虎城）Northwest Army and undertook a military coup in 1932. After the coup failed, he aligned with Liu Zhidan（劉志丹）and made efforts to build guerilla bases along the Shaanxi-Gansu border. In 1934, the Shaangan Border Region Soviet Area was established. Xi served as the chairman of the Soviet area government and was responsible for the region’s development. He also played a key role in merging the Shaanxi-Gansu Border and Northern Shaanxi Soviet Areas to form the Revolutionary Base Area of the Northwest. This particular area turned into a harbor of refuge for Mao Zedong and comrades of the CCP to end the Long March. It subsequently became the headquarter of Chinese Communist Movement. Xi then followed the party’s directions and continued his military career in the Revolutionary Base Area of the Northwest.
