New Fourth Army Liu Laozhuang Company Memorial Park

New Fourth Army Liu Laozhuang Company Memorial Park

The New Fourth Army Liu Laozhuang Company Memorial Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism site, a patriotic education base, and a national defense education base.

The New Fourth Army Liu Laozhuang Company Memorial Park (Huaiyin 82 Martyrs Cemetery) was established in 1955 to commemorate the 82 officers and soldiers of the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Regiment, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army. On March 18, 1943, under the command of Company Commander Bai Sicai and Political Instructor Li Yunpeng, they fought from dawn until dusk to protect the safe evacuation of the local Party, government, military authorities, and civilians from Liu Laozhuang. Facing a frenzied attack by more than 1,000 Japanese and puppet troops, they killed over 170 enemies, injured more than 200, and bravely repelled five enemy assaults. In the end, due to being outnumbered, all 82 soldiers sacrificed their lives heroically. Comrade Hu Jintao, in his speech at the ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, said: The "Liu Laozhuang Company" of the New Fourth Army and many other heroic groups are outstanding representatives of the Chinese people’s fearless resistance and valiant struggle. Comrade Xi Jinping also mentioned in his speech at the symposium commemorating the 69th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War: The "Liu Laozhuang Company" of the New Fourth Army and many other heroic groups are outstanding representatives of the Chinese people who feared no sacrifice and died for their country. The memorial park is located in Liu Laozhuang Township, Huaiyin District, Huai’an City, covering an area of about 480 acres with a green coverage rate of 75%. Major commemorative facilities in the park include: the 82 Martyrs’ Tomb, the 82 Martyrs Memorial Hall, the Ambition Pavilion, the 82 Martyrs Monument and Plaza, the Stele Corridor, the Pillars, 82 Pine Trees, the Red Star Plaza, the Bloody Battle of Liu Laozhuang Themed Trench, the Zhang Fangjiu Martyrs Monument, the Unknown Martyrs Tomb, the Huaiyin Scattered Martyrs Centralized Burial Area (the Martyrs Comfort Project), the Liu Pi Street Battle Memorial Pavilion, and the Liu Laozhuang 82 Martyrs Memorial Forest.

In recent years, the development of the park has entered a fast track and a period of great leap forward. More than 80 million yuan has been invested in the expansion and renovation projects of the park. Especially since 2010, the park invited the renowned planning master and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Qi Kang from Southeast University, to conduct overall planning and design for the memorial park. The park now features several major landmark landscapes represented by the Memorial Hall, the Monument, the Martyrs’ Tomb, the Red Star Plaza, and the Memorial Forest, forming a garden-style cemetery that integrates publicity, commemoration, education, and sightseeing functions. At the same time, internal management has been strengthened, service reception concepts have been innovated, and efforts have been made to build the distinctive brand of a classic red tourism scenic spot. The park has been successively designated as a National Anti-Japanese War Memorial Facility, a National Defense Education Demonstration Base, a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, a National Classic Red Tourism Scenic Spot, a Provincial-Level Martyrs Memorial Building Protection Unit, a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit, and a Provincial-Level Patriotic Education Base. It receives an average of over 500,000 visitors annually for commemoration and sightseeing.