Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall

Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall

With strong support and assistance from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the State Forestry Administration, the provincial Party committee, and the provincial government, construction of the Ma Yongjian Exhibition Hall began in the spring of 2002. The main structure was completed that same year, exhibition arrangement started in 2003, and was finished in October 2004.

The Ma Yongjian Exhibition Hall is situated within the Songtao Ecological Park of the Tieli Forestry Bureau on Songtao Street, Tuanjie Road, Tieli City, Heilongjiang Province. It covers an area of 20,000 square meters, with a building area of 2,207 square meters. The hall features two exhibition rooms divided into six sections. The “Hard Times” section documents the hardships Ma endured from his birth in 1914 until the founding of New China, under the oppression of Japanese invaders and “labor contractors.” The “Logging Model Worker” section highlights his dedication as one of the first-generation loggers in New China, who worked passionately to fell trees for the nation’s construction. The “Afforestation Hero” section showcases his post-retirement commitment to greening the Greater Khingan Mountains, leading the “Ma Family Army” in planting trees to restore the environment. The “Glorious Life” section presents the numerous honors he received over half a century for his contributions to China’s forestry development. The “Warm Care” section displays how leaders of the Party and the state warmly received Ma. The “Spirit Lives On” section illustrates how people across the country have learned from and promoted Ma Yongjian’s spirit, focusing on ecological conservation, afforestation, and inspiring future generations.

Through more than 150 photos, paintings, sculptures, and over 200 artifacts, the Ma Yongjian Exhibition Hall vividly portrays his remarkable life journey from “Logging Model Worker” to “Afforestation Hero.”

The hall also houses an exhibition room dedicated to the historical relics of the Tieli forest region. Featuring a wealth of precious historical images and unearthed artifacts, it showcases the long history of the Tieli forest area and the struggle of its people, under the leadership of the Communist Party, in developing and constructing a new socialist forest region.

On October 26, 2004, the Tieli Forestry Bureau in Heilongjiang Province grandly held the opening ceremony of the Ma Yongjian Exhibition Hall. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the National Committee of the Chinese Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Trade Union, the Propaganda Office of the State Forestry Administration, the Publicity Department of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, the Heilongjiang Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, and the Party Committee of the Heilongjiang Forest Industry Bureau all sent congratulatory telegrams and letters for the inauguration. Ma Yongjian’s widow, Madam Wang Jirong, led the “Ma Family Army,” along with over 2,000 representatives from all walks of society, to attend the ceremony.

Funding for the construction of the museum was raised by departments such as the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government. Daily operational costs are covered by the Tieli Forestry Bureau itself. To better fulfill the educational role of the memorial, despite financial constraints, the bureau has invested over 500,000 yuan in recent years to upgrade equipment and enhance the quality of the exhibition. In particular, in 2007, the bureau developed the Songtao Cultural Square centered around the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall, creating a new and vibrant cultural landmark in the Tieli area.

Currently, there are four staff members. This is a united, pragmatic, motivated, and innovative team. Guided by the belief of “practicing the spirit of Ma Yongjian first, then promoting it,” they are committed to their roles and continuously hone their skills. At the beginning, they took on the challenge of their new roles. Under the guidance of leaders at all levels and the leadership of the management team, they diligently studied their field and quickly adapted to the tasks of managing, maintaining, and servicing the memorial. They established rules, standardized management. In the early days, drawing on the experience of other institutions and adapting to their own circumstances, the management team formulated a series of regulations. These include the “Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall Work Plan,” “Six Regulations on Civilized Service at the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall,” “Eight Prohibitions for Employee Conduct,” “Trial Quantitative Assessment Plan for Staff,” and the “Civilized Visiting Convention for Visitors,” laying the foundation for scientific and standardized management. Keeping pace with the times and adapting to change, the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall team embodies the spirit of the era, updating ideas and adopting new methods and measures. They follow the times and exemplify the “never-ending reforestation” spirit of the old hero Ma Yongjian, who believed in “life without end, afforestation without stop.” Around May Day each year, they volunteer to plant trees in the mountains, adding new greenery to the forest region.

To date, the number of visitors has exceeded 150,000. During the campaign for advanced Party members, over 30,000 Party members, cadres, and citizens from across the city visited the museum. Through these visits, they learned about Ma Yongjian’s deeds and received patriotic and collectivist education. Afterward, they all expressed their commitment to inheriting and promoting Ma Yongjian’s spirit and contributing to the development of the forest region. In recent years, the museum has welcomed over 25,000 visitors annually from within and outside the province, including forest workers, students, and armed police officers. The museum has also hosted foreign visitors from Belgium, Russia, Japan, and the United States.

Since its opening, we have upheld free admission. Priority is given to minors. To avoid disrupting their studies, we remain open on holidays when needed, fully realizing the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall’s role as a model patriotic education base. Meanwhile, since the planning, setup, inauguration, and official opening, leaders at the national, provincial, and municipal levels have repeatedly inspected our work and commended the achievements of the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall.

Since 2003, the Ma Yongjian Memorial Hall has been designated as a Heilongjiang Patriotic Education Base by the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and Government, a Revolutionary Tradition Education Base by the Heilongjiang Provincial Military District, and a Minor Patriotic Education Base by the Yichun Civilization Committee. It has also been awarded the title of Advanced Collective by five departments: the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, the Provincial Department of Culture, the Provincial Civil Affairs Department, the Provincial Department of Education, and the Provincial Youth League Committee.

Location: Songtao Ecological Park, Tieli Forestry Bureau, Songtao Street, Tuanjie Road, Tieli City, Yichun, Heilongjiang Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 1 or 3 in Tieli and get off at Tuanjie Road Station.