Tomb of the Martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion

Tomb of the Taiping Rebellion Martyrs

The Tomb of the Martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai Municipality.

The Tomb of the Martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion is located in Tunliangxiang Village, Gaoqiao Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Construction began in 1945 to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Taiping Rebellion.

On a 600-square-meter granite platform surrounded by stone railings, a black stone tombstone stands in the center, flanked by stone pillars topped with a canopy (a stone roof), resembling ancient stone memorial archways at the front of tombs. The inscription on the front of the tablet reads "Tomb of the Martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion." The back bears the following inscription: "Under the historical conditions of the 1850s, the Taiping Rebellion not only shouldered the task of opposing feudal forces but also took on the mission of resisting foreign capitalist aggression. The heroes of the Taiping Rebellion fought bravely to fulfill the revolutionary tasks entrusted to them by history. Their achievements were glorious. In 1862, the loyal King Li Xiucheng led his forces in a victorious advance toward Shanghai, striking a powerful blow against foreign capitalist aggressors here. This demonstrated their lofty spirit of patriotism. The martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion who fell in this anti-aggression struggle shall live forever!" This inscription was written during the 1954 restoration.

Behind the tablet is an oval-shaped platform. The burial ground is planted with pines and evergreen trees, creating a solemn and tranquil atmosphere.

Over a hundred years ago, during the Battle of Gaoqiao, the bodies of the brave Taiping soldiers who died in battle were transported to Tunliangxiang. There was no time for proper burial, so local farmers covered them with earth, forming a long, narrow mound that locals called the "Long Tomb." The brutal killings and burnings carried out by Qing troops and foreign invaders in Gaoqiao stirred deep hatred among the local people, further intensifying their remembrance of the Taiping forces. After the failure of the Taiping Rebellion, every Tomb-Sweeping Day, people would bring offerings of food and wine, as well as burn paper money in tribute. By the 16th year of the Guangxu reign (1890), the large number of visitors drew official attention, prompting a ban. Thereafter, the earthen mound deteriorated with no one daring to repair it, and it became overgrown with weeds, eventually turning into an abandoned grave.

After the liberation, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Taiping Rebellion’s establishment of its capital in Nanjing, the Shanghai Cultural Relics Management Committee restored the Tomb of the Martyrs of the Taiping Rebellion in 1954 and erected a stone tablet. In 1959, the tomb was designated as a Class A cultural heritage site under the protection of Shanghai Municipality. During the Cultural Revolution, the tombstone was damaged. It was not until 1985 that reconstruction took place, doubling the size of the burial ground to 41 meters east-west and 11 meters north-south, with a protected area extending 50 meters around the site.

The Taiping Army’s Three Attacks on Shanghai:

The first attack took place in June 1860 when the Taiping forces advanced into Suzhou and Changzhou, capturing Suzhou in a swift campaign and establishing the Suzhou-Fu Province. Li Xiucheng’s troops continued their eastward push toward Shanghai but failed to take the city after several days due to the defending Qing army being aided by British and French forces. They later withdrew due to an urgent crisis in Jiaxing.

The second attack occurred in January 1862 when Li Xiucheng’s forces launched another assault on Shanghai. Advancing north from Hangzhou, they engaged in a pincer movement with forces under Feng Tianyi Liu Zhaojun, who were advancing south through Suzhou, Jiading, Qingpu, and Baoshan toward the county seat. Shanghai’s officials and gentry established the Joint Defense Office (also known as the “Shanghai Joint Defense Bureau”) at Yangjingbang (Foreign Settlement), collaborating with British and French forces for defense. Meanwhile, Li Hongzhang led over 6,500 newly formed Huai Army troops, who landed in Shanghai via Anqing, joining the battle. The Huai Army made its combat debut in Shanghai, leading to successive defeats for the Taiping forces.

The third attack happened in May 1862 when Li Xiucheng gathered his elite troops in an attempt to—advancing from the Kunshan-Taicang line, they briefly captured Songjiang Prefecture. However, by this time, the Xiang Army navy had already reached the outskirts of Tianjing. The Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan repeatedly ordered Li Xiucheng to return with his troops to provide relief. By the end of the year, all Taiping forces had withdrawn to Kunshan.

Tunliangxiang Village: Located slightly north of the center of Gaoqiao Town, Tunliangxiang Village is a relatively intact natural village. The name “Tunliangxiang” (Grain Storage Lane) originates from the Taiping Rebellion period when Taiping troops stockpiled grain here. The village covers an area of 0.7 square kilometers, comprising six villager groups, with a total of 880 households and 2,454 residents, including 306 agricultural residents and 2,148 non-agricultural residents, plus 2,934 migrant residents, bringing the total resident population to 5,388. The village has 348.86 acres of arable land. Since 2000, Tunliangxiang Village in Gaoqiao Town has... [Detailed information about Tunliangxiang Village++]