Sihong County Martyrs' Cemetery

Shuyang County Martyrs' Cemetery

Shuyang County Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Shuyang Martyrs' Cemetery is located on Suzhou East Road in Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. Situated by the ancient Qianshu River, it lies in the southeastern suburbs of Shuyang City. To honor the great achievements of the martyrs and educate future generations to inherit and carry forward their noble revolutionary spirit, in 1958, the Shuyang County People’s Government issued a document to establish the martyrs’ cemetery here. The cemetery stretches 250 meters from north to south and 120 meters from east to west, covering an area of 40 mu. Initially, there were only three martyrs’ tombs in the cemetery. After three expansions in 1963, 1975, and 1985, it now includes multiple commemorative structures such as a memorial tower, memorial stele, memorial pavilion, and the Exhibition Hall of Martyrs' History.

By the ancient Qianshu River, in the southeastern suburbs of Shuyang City, lies a serene and lush site shaded by pines and cypresses and abundant with flowers and plants — this is the Shuyang Martyrs' Cemetery.

Approaching this solemn and sacred place, one is greeted by a milky-white, V-shaped gate facing south, which commands deep respect. Above the gate, the six golden characters “Shuyang Martyrs' Cemetery” shine brilliantly in the sunlight. On either side of the gate are embedded black marble plaques in the style of couplets, inscribed with lines from Mao Zedong’s poetry handwritten by calligrapher Jiang Hua: “Because of sacrifice, our aspirations are great; we dare to change the sun and moon for a new sky.” Reciting these lines stirs the heart, evoking reverence and remembrance for the revolutionary martyrs.

Let us not forget the source of our blessings. To honor the great achievements of the martyrs and educate future generations to inherit and carry forward their noble revolutionary spirit, in 1958, the Shuyang County People’s Government issued a document to establish the martyrs’ cemetery here. The cemetery stretches 250 meters from north to south and 120 meters from east to west, covering an area of 40 mu. Initially, there were only three martyrs’ tombs in the cemetery. After three expansions in 1963, 1975, and 1985, it now includes multiple commemorative structures such as a memorial tower, memorial stele, memorial pavilion, and the Exhibition Hall of Martyrs' History.

Monument to the People's Heroes

Upon entering the cemetery gate, one sees a serene expanse shaded by dense pines and cypresses, with lush green grass and the fresh fragrance unique to those trees filling the air. Directly connected to the main gate is a memorial square, where a straight concrete path leads to the solemn and majestic square-columned Monument to the People's Heroes. The monument stands 18 meters tall and was built in 1975. Its two-tiered, stepped base is square-shaped, while its top adopts the traditional design of ancient Chinese steles and pagodas, featuring sloping ridges and an elegant, classic aesthetic. The lower part of the main body, about two meters high, is constructed from large rectangular granite blocks. Each of its four sides is inlaid with eight sunflower decorative carvings, symbolizing the martyrs’ unwavering loyalty to the Party. On the front of the monument are engraved the golden raised characters “The People’s Heroes Live Forever.” On the left side, in intaglio script, are the words “The People’s Heroes Who Sacrificed Their Lives for the Liberation of Mankind Live Forever,” followed by 20 golden characters. The right side bears 27 golden characters similarly inscribed: “The People’s Heroes Who Sacrificed Their Lives for the Socialist Revolution and Socialist Construction Live Forever.” The back of the monument is inscribed with the words “Monument to the People’s Heroes” and “Date.” Surrounding the monument grow lush pines, cypresses, plum blossoms, and winter jasmine. With evergreen foliage and floral companions year-round, it signifies that the spirit of the revolutionary martyrs remains forever youthful and eternal.

Tomb of Martyr Wu Lingsheng

Approximately 30 meters north along the same central axis as the Monument to the People’s Heroes lies the tomb of Martyr Wu Lingsheng. The tomb mound is round, with a 4-meter-high marble stele erected in front. This stele was erected in June 1963 by the CPC Shuyang County Committee and the Shuyang County People’s Committee. The front features regular-script engraving reading “Tomb of Martyr Wu Lingsheng,” while the back details his life story. Wu Lingsheng was born in 1899 in Yanji Township, Shuyang County. While studying in Beijing in 1919, he participated in the May Fourth Movement. In February 1923, he joined the Chinese Socialist Youth League and soon after became a member of the Communist Party of China. That same year, he was sent by the Party organization, represented by Li Dazhao, to study at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East in Moscow, Soviet Union. He returned to China in 1925 and was dispatched by the Party Central Committee to work in the Northeast. He served successively as Secretary of the Harbin Special Branch of the CPC, Secretary of the North Manchuria Regional Committee, Special Commissioner for the Three Northeast Provinces, and Head of Organization of the Manchuria Provincial Committee. In the winter of 1929, following Party instructions, he transferred to Shandong to serve as Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee. In February 1930, he was arrested by the reactionary Kuomintang in Jinan due to betrayal. Despite brutal torture, he remained resolute and was executed alongside 21 comrades on April 5, 1931, at the age of 32.

In May 1962, with approval from the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, the CPC Shuyang County Committee and the Shuyang County People’s Committee relocated Martyr Wu Lingsheng’s remains to the Shuyang Martyrs' Cemetery. To carry forward the martyrs’ legacy and promote the development of both material and spiritual civilization, in April 1994, the CPC Shuyang County Committee and County Government also erected two statues of Martyr Wu Lingsheng in the North Park of the county town and in the National Defense Park within the Youth Square, ensuring lasting commemoration and everlasting glory.

Martyrs’ Memorial Pavilion

Not far north of the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and symmetrically positioned 30 meters to either side of the cemetery’s central axis, stand two octagonal Martyrs’ Memorial Pavilions. The western pavilion houses four martyrs’ memorial steles. These four steles were moved here in 1985 with the approval of the County Committee and County Government from the North Park. They include the “Memorial Stele for Martyr Tang Shuhong, Captain of the 3rd Regiment of the 8th Route Army’s Longhai Southward Advance Detachment,” the “Martyrdom Memorial Stele for Song Yaonan, Captain of the 7th Regiment of the Huaihai Military Sub-district, and Sun Dongchu,” and the “Martyrdom Memorial Stele for District Chief Ren Mingjiu.” Each stele represents a heroic epic, chronicling the awe-inspiring deeds of the revolutionary martyrs. Martyr Tang Shuhong was a household name across Shuyang, Donghai, Guanyun, and Guannan. Born in 1915 in Tanggou Town, Shuyang County (now part of Guannan County), he pursued revolutionary truths during his middle school years. In the early stages of the War of Resistance, under the leadership of the Communist Party, he organized anti-Japanese self-defense teams and the Chinese National Liberation Vanguard, eventually establishing the 3rd Regiment of the 8th Route Army’s Longhai Southward Advance Detachment in April 1939, where he was appointed captain. He spearheaded vigorous resistance against the Japanese. The successful ambush at Wulihuai greatly boosted the confidence of locals in Dongguan, Shuyang, and Guannan in fighting the invaders. Just as this young revolutionary force was growing, Tang Shuhong was tragically killed by the diehard faction of the Kuomintang. Though he lived only 24 years, like a bright star in the night sky, he forever shines in the hearts of the people.

Within the western pavilion, two steles engraved with the praises “Radiance Shines on Jinping” and “Might Shakes Tonghai” express the people’s deep reverence and affection for the heroic regimental commanders Song Yaonan and Sun Dongchu. In July 1943, Song Yaonan, Captain of the 7th Regiment of the 3rd Detachment of the Huaihai Military Sub-district, personally commanded frontline operations during the assault on the Sangxu Japanese puppet stronghold. Unfortunately, he was severely wounded and died a glorious death at the age of 30. To commemorate him, the Huaihai Administrative Office decided to rename the Liyi District to Yaonan District. Sun Dongchu, who succeeded as Captain of the 7th Regiment, also died heroically in battle during the attack on Cai Village in August of the same year. The loss of two regimental commanders within a single month starkly illustrated the cruelty of war and the hard-won nature of revolutionary victory.

The eastern pavilion also houses four steles. These commemorate the “116 Martyrs” and the “Seven Heroes by the Chaimi River” who died during the Liberation War. The “116 Martyrs’ Stele” records how, in October 1946, when the 74th Division of the Kuomintang army invaded the Huaihai Area, the 15th Regiment of the New Fourth Army’s 6th Division fought fiercely for three days and nights near Qianji Township by the Liutang River, near Xiezuo Township, to defend the liberated zone. Over 500 enemy soldiers were annihilated, but 116 officers and soldiers of the 15th Regiment sacrificed their lives. To permanently honor them, the “116 Martyrs’ Pavilion” was established in September 1954 at the site of their sacrifice. In October 1978, the Shuyang County People’s Government rebuilt the “116 Martyrs’ Pavilion” in Qianji. In 1985, the original “116 Martyrs’ Stele” and its inscriptions were replicated and re-erected in the newly built eastern pavilion of the Shuyang Martyrs' Cemetery. The “Seven Heroes’ Memorial Stele” commemorates an incident on the morning of June 16, 1947, when over 400 Kuomintang troops and local reactionary militias surrounded the office of Zhongwan Township, Shuyang, attempting to eliminate township officials, village cadres, and the model team. Outnumbered, 17 comrades, led by local instructor Zhang Jiexing, fought back bravely, repelling nine enemy assaults and killing over 20 enemies. In the bloody battle, seven, including Zhang Jiexing, sacrificed their lives. To honor them, the 6th Sub-region CPC Committee of Central China launched a campaign to learn from the Seven Heroes, posthumously recognizing Zhang Jiexing as a Model Party Member. In March 1983, the Shuyang County People’s Government erected a stele in their permanent memory.

About 20 meters north of the eastern pavilion lies the martyrs’ tomb area. The tombs face south and are arranged in two rows, front and back, interring the remains of 16 martyrs, including veterans of the Red Army and Eighth Route Army, who sacrificed their lives for the revolution in various periods. About 40 meters north of the tomb area is a five-room brick-and-tile structure with corridors, serving as the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Ashes Repository. It houses the ashes of 17 martyrs. Towering in front of the building are verdant arborvitae trees, standing like loyal sentinels guarding the martyrs and resembling emerald parasols that dignify their spirits.

North of the western pavilion lies a flower nursery and bonsai garden spanning approximately three mu, cultivating a variety of plants. Currently, the cemetery has over 100 species of flowers and plants, beautifying the environment and generating additional income for the cemetery.

Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Martyrs’ History

Beyond the flower nursery, at the rear of the cemetery, stands the newly built Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Martyrs’ History, designed in a classical ethnic style with upturned eaves, brackets, and purple-glazed tiles, presenting a majestic sight. Shuyang is a veteran revolutionary base area, with a total of 4,350 martyrs having sacrificed their lives across various revolutionary periods. The hall displays the life stories of 25 martyrs and 43 portraits, as well as preserving revolutionary relics such as the inscription by Chu Tunan, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, for Martyr Wu Lingsheng: “Devoted oneself entirely to the people, infinitely loyal to the revolution.” Among the portraits, one female revolutionary stands out.

She is Wang Hua, former Deputy Director of the Women’s Federation in Zhouji District, Shuyang County. Born in 1929 into a poor peasant family, she joined the revolution at age 15 and held leadership roles among women at the village, township, and district levels. She led women in making military shoes, grinding flour for public use, passing intelligence, and transporting wounded soldiers. She joined the Communist Party of China with honor in August 1946. At the end of April 1947, while carrying out revolutionary work in a village, she was surrounded by the Kuomintang militia due to a traitor’s tip-off. To protect the people, she stepped forward. The enemy captured her and took her to the Qianji stronghold, where they tortured her brutally. She remained resolute, unmoved by offers of money or status. When the enemy ran out of options, they cruelly killed her at the age of 18. Soon after her death, Zhouji District held a memorial service attended by thousands, and the higher government posthumously awarded her the honorable title of “Heroine Like Liu Hulan.”

Also in the Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Martyrs’ History is the story of a volunteer soldier martyr named Liu Jinzuo, from Liuzhai Village, Sangxu Township. Born into a farming family in 1944, he joined the army and was honored as a “First-Class Meritorious Soldier.” During the Korean War, as a company commander of the Volunteer Army, he fearlessly led his troops in repelling numerous enemy attacks. In January 1951, during the Battle of Longwan Peak in Korea, U.S. forces attacked his position with five tanks followed by infantry. He sent four demolition soldiers, all of whom were killed mid-mission. Undeterred, he grabbed explosives and courageously crawled toward the enemy tanks, successfully destroying three. Tragically, he died a martyr in the process. His comrades, suppressing their grief, destroyed the remaining two tanks and won the battle. The unit’s leadership posthumously recognized Liu Jinzuo as a “First-Class Combat Hero.”