Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park

Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park

Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yuan Chonghuan, recognizing the combat prowess of soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi, specially recruited two thousand Yao troops each from Tianzhou in western Guangxi (now Tiandong County), Sicheng Zhou (now Lingyun County), and Longying Zhou (now Tiandeng County), and sent them to Shanhaiguan for training. At the same time, Yuan dispatched people to Tianjin and other places to purchase strategic supplies and actively developed Guang-style warships. He also requested the deployment of two thousand troops from the Guangdong navy to the Liaodong sea area to train the naval forces, in order to strengthen coastal defense. Moreover, he closely cooperated with Sun Chengzong, the military strategist of Jiliu, and ordered the garrison commander Zu Dashou to oversee the construction of the strategically important new fortress Ningyuan (now Xingcheng, Liaoning). Chonghuan further shared the daily life and hardships with his soldiers, which quickly enabled him to train a formidable and battle-hardened army. The "Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park" in Shuinan Management Area broke ground in August 2001 and has since become an important patriotic education site and tourist destination.

Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630), courtesy name Yuansu, art name Ziru, also known as Yuan Dushi (Supreme Commander Yuan), was a renowned general in the late Ming Dynasty. Yuan Chonghuan achieved major victories at Ningyuan and Ningjin, effectively resisting the Qing forces, but resigned and returned home due to Wei Zhongxian. After the enthronement of Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian, Wei Zhongxian was removed, and Yuan Chonghuan was reinstated. However, during a battle against Hong Taiji, Yuan was falsely accused of colluding with the Later Jin forces. Emperor Chongzhen sentenced him to death by lingchi (slow slicing), exiled his family three thousand li away, and confiscated his property. Yuan Chonghuan authored poems such as "Failing the Imperial Exam," "Enjoying the Moon During Autumn Examinations," "Imprisonment," and "Moon Over the Prison..." More details about Yuan Chonghuan ++