Jilin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Jilin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Jilin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Jilin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located in Jilin City, known as China’s charming city and the River City of the North, and is situated within the beautiful Beishan Park. As a heroic city with a revolutionary tradition, after the establishment of New China, the Jilin Municipal People's Government constructed the cemetery in 1954 in the scenic Beishan Park to honor the brave martyrs who gave their lives. The site is divided into three parts: the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery, the Revolutionary Martyrs' Monument, and the Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Hall, covering an area of 15,995 square meters.

The Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery was built in 1954, covering an area of 7,079.5 square meters. It is the final resting place of more than 400 revolutionary heroes who bravely sacrificed their lives during the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Liberation War, the construction of New China, and peaceful times for national liberation and justice. These include anti-Japanese national hero and Vice Commander of the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, Wei Zhengmin, as well as Red Army soldiers and revolutionary cadres.

The Revolutionary Martyrs' Monument was built in October 1956, covering an area of 3,472.5 square meters. The monument stands 28 meters tall, with a base designed with a five-pointed star and circular patterns. The main body is a regular pentagonal structure made of granite. It features platinum inscriptions such as “Eternal Glory to the Revolutionary Martyrs,” “Their Spirits Live On,” and “Long Live the Fallen Heroes.” The monument can accommodate 500 people for commemorative activities at one time and receives over 100,000 visitors annually.

The Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Hall covers a land area of 5,443 square meters, with a building area of 3,129 square meters and an exhibition area of 4,500 square meters. It is a traditional Chinese quadrangle-style building with glazed tile roofs, completed and opened to the public in 1995. The original member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission personally inscribed the hall’s name. In April 2007, with strong support from the national, provincial, and municipal governments, the hall was expanded. It now houses over 4 million characters of text, 264 pieces of artwork including oil paintings, traditional Chinese paintings, and photographic works, as well as 178 physical exhibits and over 90 photographs and manuscripts. The memorial hall is divided into three exhibition areas: the Wei Zhengmin Memorial Hall, the Anti-Japanese United Army Heroes Exhibition Hall, and the River City Heroes Exhibition Hall. Through modern display methods such as photos, text panels, oil paintings, high-relief sculptures, image sculptures, silicone rubber simulacra, scene reconstructions, scene simulations, and electronic display screens, the exhibition showcases the glorious deeds of 27 revolutionary martyrs, including anti-Japanese national hero Wei Zhengmin, who sacrificed their lives for national liberation, justice, and the construction of Jilin during the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Liberation War, and the socialist construction period.

Jilin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery has always adhered to the mission of “honoring the martyrs and educating the public” in its construction and patriotic education activities. The memorial hall is open to the public free of charge year-round and provides free guided tours. It receives nearly 200,000 visitors annually. In recent years, the number of red tourism groups has been increasing year by year. On Qingming Festival and major holidays, people from all walks of life often gather here to hold various commemorative and educational activities. In April 2001, it was approved by the State Council as a National Key Martyrs’ Memorial Building Protection Unit. In May 2009, it was named a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. In August 2012, it was designated as a National Defense Education Demonstration Base by the National Defense Education Office of China. It is also among the first batch of clean government education bases in Jilin Province, a Jilin Provincial CPC History Education Base, a Jilin Municipal Party Member Activity Base, and a Jilin Municipal 18-Year-Old Coming-of-Age Ceremony Education Base. It has become a key patriotic education site in Jilin City.

Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China