Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery

Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery

Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic red tourism site.

Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery

Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery is located half a kilometer southwest of Xifo Town, on the north side of the Shenpan Highway, surrounded by towering, lush trees. Here lie the remains of 53 martyrs who sacrificed their lives gloriously in the Liberation War.

The cemetery is enclosed by red brick walls and covers an area of 90 square meters. The main gate is inscribed with the four large characters “Martyrs’ Cemetery,” and the couplet on both sides reads: “Recalling the past and mourning the revolutionary martyrs; carrying on their legacy to safeguard our red homeland.” The cemetery is divided into front and rear courtyards. In the center of the front courtyard stands a towering monument, 10 meters high. The front of the monument bears the inscription: “Eternal glory to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives gloriously in the Liberation War.” The back of the monument reads: “Erected on October 25, 1954.” At the boundary between the two courtyards of the cemetery stands an archway, 3 meters long and 2 meters high. There is a couplet on both sides of the archway. The upper line reads: “For the cause, they dared to make the ultimate sacrifice;” the lower line reads: “They dared to change the world and the heavens.” The inscriptions recount the heroic and moving deeds of martyrs such as Han Yimin, who gave their lives for the establishment of the people’s government. It also describes the course of the “Xifo Encounter Battle”: On February 9, 1946, the 64th Regiment of the 22nd Division of the Nationalist New Sixth Army, guided by bandit leader Zhou Dongsheng, invaded the county town. Due to being outnumbered, the county party and government offices and the security regiment evacuated the county town and moved to the Xifo District. At dawn on February 13, as the county security regiment was escorting the party and government offices eastward in retreat, they were ambushed by about two companies of the New Sixth Army west of Jinjiawobao Village. Surrounded from the front and rear, the security regiment fought fiercely, and the battle lasted until 2 p.m. Thanks to the support of the Eighth Brigade of Liaonan, which arrived from the Daqian direction, the retreating personnel were safely evacuated, and the battle ended in the evening. In this encounter battle, nearly 100 soldiers and party and government personnel were killed or injured. The names of the known martyrs include Xu Hongyuan, head of the urban district of Tai’an County; Zhang Dong, organizational officer of the military division; Zhang Zicao, warden of the military detention center; Ma Dianzuo, a public security officer; and a female comrade surnamed Dong.

As the sun rises and sets, and the grass withers and thrives, Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery quietly guards the spirits of the fallen heroes resting beneath in the cycle of seasons.

As society develops and times progress, Xifo Martyrs' Cemetery has become a patriotic education base in Tai’an County, inspiring the people of Tai’an to follow in the footsteps of the martyrs and jointly create a peaceful, happy, civilized, and prosperous homeland.