Guanyun County Martyrs' Cemetery

Guanyun County Martyrs' Cemetery

The Guanyun County Martyrs' Cemetery is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a classic red tourism site.

The Guanyun County Martyrs' Cemetery was built in 1958, covering an area of over 30 acres, and is part of Xishan Park. The cemetery is situated at the western foot of Dayi Mountain, surrounded by peaks on the south, north, and west sides, while offering an overlook to the county town to the east. It is built along the mountain slope in two terraced sections, divided into two courtyards by a flower wall. In the center of the front stands a grand Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs, inscribed with the handwritten words of Xie Juezai, former Minister of Internal Affairs of China and one of the “Five Elders of the Chinese Revolution”: “Shining as Bright as the Sun and Moon.” The lawn in front of the monument is lush and green, serving as a site for people to mourn the martyrs. The tall dragon cypresses beside the monument remain evergreen all year round, resembling loyal guards. On both sides of the front courtyard are exhibition halls. The north hall displays the deeds and relics of 37 martyrs, while the south hall houses elegiac couplets, scrolls, and other items commemorating the martyrs. The rear courtyard is the martyrs’ burial ground, where 14 gravesites containing 20 martyrs have been laid to rest, including notable figures such as veteran Red Army soldier Wang Rongjiang, deputy commander of the county brigade Hao Guangsheng, deputy secretary of the Yishan District Committee Ren Shuyun, and democratic figure Wu Pichu, as well as seven unnamed heroes from the Yuchan Mountain Battle. The entire cemetery is shaded by lush pines and cypresses, solemn and respectful—a revolutionary memorial site imbued with deep public sentiment.

In 1995, the cemetery was designated as a “County-level Patriotic Education Base” by the county Party committee and county government. In 2000, it was named a “Lianyungang City National Defense Education Base for All Citizens” by the municipal government and the Lianyungang Garrison Command. In 2003, it was established as a “Party Members and Cadres Education Base” by the county Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Guanyun County is home to a total of 1,222 revolutionary martyrs. Within the county, 240 martyrs are buried, including 105 in centralized burial sites located in the county martyrs' cemetery and the cemeteries of five townships: Shizhuang, Tuhe, Xiaoyi, Yibei, and Longju. More than a hundred scattered martyr tombs across the county will be gradually relocated to the county martyrs’ cemetery.

Source: Party History Research Office of the CPC Lianyungang Municipal Committee