Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery

Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery

Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural tourism attraction, a classic red tourism site, and a patriotic education base.

Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery was built in 1954 by the Shanghai Municipal Government to commemorate the 1,619 revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Pudong area during the Battle of Shanghai’s Liberation. In January 1995, it was listed as one of China’s Top 100 Patriotic Education Bases by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The cemetery spans 25,641 square meters, and at its entrance stands a large "August 1st" sculpture jointly funded by the people of Pudong New Area. The sculpture is 12 meters high and 20 meters wide. On both sides of the memorial plaza, two new large-scale reliefs, each 1.8 meters high and 15 meters wide, have been added, along with 12 granite reliefs on both sides of the memorial monument, each 2.2 meters high and 1.8 meters wide, vividly depicting scenes of the People's Liberation Army fighting bravely. The cemetery provides space and assistance for people from all walks of life and young students to visit, pay tribute, and hold various commemorative ceremonies.

In 2003, the Pudong New Area government invested over 45 million yuan to comprehensively renovate and expand Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery. The present-day cemetery features lush pines, a beautiful environment, and a well-planned landscape layout. The majestic and solemn memorial monument bears the inscription by Comrade Chen Yi: “Eternal Glory to the Heroes Who Sacrificed Their Lives for the Liberation of Shanghai.” The main gate of the cemetery is inscribed with the name “Gaoqiao Martyrs' Cemetery,” written by another comrade. The black-golden Wall of Martyrs' Names shines brilliantly against the backdrop of a large water curtain. The Shanghai Campaign Pudong Memorial Hall, with its name inscribed by another comrade, covers a construction area of 2,846 square meters and an exhibition area of 1,500 square meters. Utilizing techniques such as murals, models, and multimedia projection, along with high-tech elements like sound, light, and electricity, it authentically recreates the intense and tragic battle scenes of the Shanghai Liberation Campaign.

On May 12, 1949, the Third Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, under the personal command of Chen Yi and Su Yu, launched the campaign to liberate Shanghai. The reactionary forces put up stubborn resistance, using Gaoqiao as the core of the Pudong defense line and constructing a dense network of bunkers around Gaoqiao in an attempt to block the advance of the PLA. The heroic PLA soldiers, with their overwhelming spirit, conquered Gaoqiao in the early hours of May 25, advanced straight toward the strategic Wusongkou stronghold, cut off the enemy’s escape routes, eliminated a large number of enemy combatants, and made outstanding contributions to the liberation of Shanghai. The center of the cemetery is the memorial plaza, which serves as the venue for commemorative ceremonies and can accommodate more than 2,000 people. The solemn and upright Martyrs' Monument stands at the western end of the plaza. The monument is 13 meters high, built with reinforced concrete and faced with granite.