How did Chinese resistance limit Japanese control in Anhui during World War II?

During World War II, although Japanese forces occupied most of Anhui, their effective control over the province was significantly limited by the persistent resistance of the Chinese inhabitants. This resistance was so pervasive that Japanese authority was effectively restricted to only the daylight hours.1

The broader strategy of Chinese resistance in the region involved guerrilla warfare, which challenged Japanese dominance outside of major cities and railway lines. In the lower Yangtze River valley, which includes parts of Anhui, the New Fourth Army played a critical role. This force utilized guerrilla tactics to organize resistance bases, recruit local support, and operate behind Japanese lines, preventing the occupiers from consolidating total control over the rural areas.23