May Thirtieth Movement Monument (commemorative landmark of the May Thirtieth Movement)

May Thirtieth Movement Monument (commemorative landmark of the May Thirtieth Movement)

The May Thirtieth Movement Monument (commemorative landmark of the May Thirtieth Movement) is a classic site on China’s Red Tourism routes.

The "May Thirtieth Movement Monument," located in the northeast of People's Square and not far from People's Park, stands 16.65 meters tall. This commemorative sculpture was built to mark the 65th anniversary of the May Thirtieth Movement. Its foundation stone was laid on May 30, 1985, and it was unveiled on May 30, 1990.

The monument consists of a stainless steel main sculpture, a bronze sculpture, and three granite slabs, covering an area of 4,000 square meters. The stainless steel sculpture is 15.6 meters high, 21 meters wide, and weighs 50 tons. It is formed by the two Chinese characters for “May Thirtieth,” arranged in a radiating pattern that symbolizes vigor, progress, and upward momentum. The bronze statue of a worker is 3 meters high, 4 meters wide, and weighs 3 tons, with a solemn expression. Behind it are three granite stone tablets. The central granite slab is 5 meters high and 24 meters wide, with the inscription engraved on the front and the accompanying text on the back; both the inscription and the text were written by veteran revolutionaries Chen Yun and Lu Dingyi, who participated in the May Thirtieth Movement. The two side slabs are each 4 meters high and 12 meters wide, with sets of bronze reliefs depicting the history of the May Thirtieth struggle on their backs. The granite used for the monument body, the ground, the pathway, and the base all comes from Mount Tai, symbolizing that the martyrs’ sacrifice is weightier than Mount Tai.

The May Thirtieth Movement sculpture has three distinctive features: first, it uses abstract and exaggerated forms with Chinese national characteristics to create a dynamic rendition of the two Chinese characters for “May Thirtieth,” giving it a majestic presence; second, it emphasizes harmony between the sculpture and its surroundings—each stroke of the “May Thirtieth” characters is a powerful, resilient individual, yet together they form a resolute whole; third, the use of stainless steel material enhances the grandeur of the May Thirtieth Movement. With its unique shape, innovative design, clarity, and dignity, the entire sculpture embodies the unyielding spirit of revolutionary martyrs. It is simple yet refined, reflecting the thriving spirit of the new era and highlighting the fighting spirit of the people of Shanghai.

The design firm of the monument is the Huangpu District Architectural Design and Research Institute.

May Thirtieth Movement Monument

Bronze reliefs depicting the history of the May Thirtieth struggle. On either side of the inscription are two forged copper reliefs. These depict impoverished workers crushed under the weight of hardship, grief-stricken women, hungry children clinging to their mothers, and Communists advocating for the people’s welfare.

Location

No. 766, East Nanjing Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai