Martyrs' Cemetery of the Heishan Defensive Battle

Martyrs' Cemetery of the Heishan Defensive Battle

The Martyrs' Cemetery of the Heishan Defensive Battle is a cultural tourism attraction, a classic red tourism site, a patriotic education base, and a national defense education base.

The Martyrs' Cemetery of the Heishan Defensive Battle is located to the north of Heishan County, covering a total area of 32,224 square meters. It consists of three parts: the cemetery, the memorial hall, and Hill 101.

The Heishan Defensive Battle was a famous engagement during the Liaoshen Campaign, playing a decisive role in annihilating the main Nationalist forces stationed in Northeast China and liberating the entire region. To commemorate the martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives in the battle, inspire future generations to carry on their legacy, and promote the spirit of revolutionary heroism, the local government and participating troops built the "Tomb of Martyrs of the Heishan Battle" in 1949. It was renovated in 1979 and expanded into the "Martyrs' Cemetery of the Heishan Defensive Battle" in 1984 on the 35th anniversary of the victory of the Liaoshen Campaign.

The cemetery includes a memorial tower and a group of martyr tombs. The tower stands 13.5 meters tall, with the inscription "Memorial Tower of the Heishan Defensive Battle" carved in relief on the front and the personal inscription by Marshal Luo Ronghuan, former political commissar of the Fourth Field Army, on the back: "To die for the people is to live forever." The tomb group comprises one public tomb and six individual tombs, housing the remains of 751 revolutionary martyrs. In 1999, part of the ashes of He Qingji (1909–1998), commander of the 28th Division of the 10th Column of the former Northeast Field Army who led the Heishan Defensive Battle, were interred in the cemetery.

The memorial hall has a floor area of 300 square meters. Its exhibits are divided into sections covering the strategic decisions of the Party Central Committee, the brave battles of the People's Liberation Army, the Heishan Defensive Battle, the western Liaoning encirclement and annihilation campaign, the active support of the people, and the great achievements of the martyrs. Over 20 martyr relics and more than 200 photos are preserved, vividly recreating the intensity of the battles. An exhibition column on national defense education has also been set up in front of the hall.

Over the years, the cemetery has taken it upon itself to popularize and strengthen national defense education for all citizens, prioritizing social benefits. It has been open to the public free of charge year-round. On holidays and memorial days such as Tomb-Sweeping Day, Youth Day (May 4th), Party Founding Day (July 1st), Army Day (August 1st), and National Defense Education Day, party and government agencies, schools, and enterprises frequently organize visits for patriotic and national defense education activities. During Tomb-Sweeping Day, the cemetery actively provides free services for visiting primary and secondary school students. During annual conscription periods, it collaborates with the county conscription office to organize eligible youths to receive revolutionary tradition education, inspire enthusiasm for joining the military, and hold induction ceremonies before new recruits enlist, motivating them to contribute to national defense.

The cemetery has been designated as a "National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base" by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and as a "Liaoning Provincial Patriotic Education Demonstration Base" and "Key Protected Unit of Revolutionary Martyrs' Buildings in Liaoning Province" by relevant departments of the provincial Party committee and government. The Provincial National Defense Education Committee named it a "Liaoning Provincial National Defense Education Base" in December 1998 and a "Liaoning Provincial National Defense Education Demonstration Base" in April 2004. In April 2007, the provincial government redesignated it as a "Liaoning Provincial National Defense Education Base."