Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs

Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs

The Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a Classic Red Tourism Site, and a Patriotic Education Base.

The Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs is located in Xuzhou City.

The Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs is situated in the southern part of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs Memorial Park in Xuzhou. It is a nationally famous patriotic education base and red tourism destination, and has been selected as one of China’s hundred “Classic Red Tourism Sites.” The newly constructed Huaihai Campaign Memorial Museum is the world’s largest land warfare museum. With its modern exhibition methods, rich collections, and grand scale, it has become a major highlight of red tourism in Xuzhou.

The Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs is located at the eastern foot of Phoenix Mountain in the southeastern suburbs of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The tower stands 38.15 meters tall, with its upper section adorned with a tower emblem consisting of a five-pointed star, a military insignia, and a ribbon of pine seeds. The front of the tower is inlaid with golden characters reading “Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs,” inscribed by Chairman Mao Zedong. The front of the tower base is engraved with golden inscriptions recounting the historical events of the Huaihai Campaign, as well as the heroic deeds of the martyrs who fought relentlessly and the masses who courageously supported the front lines. The upper section features an emblem of two crossed military insignias beneath a shining five-pointed star, along with a ribbon of pine seeds. The front of the base is inscribed with a memorial text, and its sides are decorated with large reliefs—the right side depicting the heroic advance of the People's Liberation Army, and the left showcasing the magnificent scene of the people vigorously supporting the front. Within the corridor encircled by corner pavilions at the base of the tower are inscriptions from Party and state leaders, as well as the names of over 30,000 martyrs. In front of the tower is a spacious platform and a ten-flight staircase that is 250 meters long and 31 meters wide, with 129 steps leading down to a central garden square with a diameter of 150 meters.

The towering Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs, situated at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in the southern suburbs of Xuzhou, is not only a witness to a glorious history but also a monument that inspires future generations. From November 6, 1948, to January 10, 1949, the Chinese People's Liberation Army waged the great Huaihai Campaign across a vast area centered on Xuzhou. The people of Xuzhou devoted themselves entirely to supporting the front lines, fighting bravely alongside the liberation forces and laying the foundation for the great victory of the Huaihai Campaign and the eventual liberation of all of China.

The five statues at the base of the Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs represent the five members of the General Front Committee of the campaign: Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin.

The Memorial Tower of the Huaihai Campaign Martyrs was approved for construction by the State Council in April 1959 and completed in 1965. The front of the tower base is engraved with inscriptions, and its sides feature large reliefs. The tower is surrounded by a corridor and corner pavilions. The ten-flight, 129-step staircase leading up to the tower enhances its majestic presence. To pay respects at the memorial, visitors must climb these steps. During summer storms, rainwater flows down the stairs, and due to the specially designed angle, when viewed from the bottom, the water forms a waterfall-like spectacle stretching thousands of meters. The slope formed by the stairs and platform was precisely calculated.

The new building of the Huaihai Campaign Memorial Museum was approved for construction by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee in May 2003 and opened to the public in July 2007. It covers a construction area of 25,000 square meters, with an exhibition area of 12,000 square meters. Nearly 3,000 cultural relics, photographs, and artworks are displayed. The panoramic painting hall is located at the center of the exhibition. The painting is 20 meters high and 150 meters in circumference, seamlessly integrated with the ground sculpture to recreate the immortal scenes of the Huaihai Campaign. The new museum’s exhibition halls are divided into four sections, comprising seven major parts: the prelude hall, the pre-war situation, the campaign implementation, the campaign victory, the people’s support, the commemoration of the martyrs, and the panoramic painting hall, spread across two floors. These are connected by two fully transparent elevators, two passenger elevators, and a curved staircase. The exhibition halls display nearly 3,000 precious cultural relics, photographs, artworks, and artifacts, vividly illustrating the process of the Huaihai Campaign’s victory and revealing the various factors and great significance behind it. Indoor displays feature 15 war scenarios based on actual battles of the Huaihai Campaign, combined with panels and relic descriptions, using modern techniques to recreate the wartime scenes. Among them, the panoramic painting hall is distinctive—the 50-meter-diameter circular hall forms the centerpiece of the new museum. The exhibited "Panoramic Painting of the Huaihai Campaign," set against the background of the campaign’s three main battlefields, is enhanced with special effects such as sound and lighting to depict a grand and sweeping war scene. The new museum moves beyond traditional photo-and-text displays, adopting comprehensive methods including sound, light, electricity, and multimedia to deliver a highly artistic and emotionally resonant experience.

Alongside the opening of the new museum, the Huaihai Campaign Tower Administration has revised the explanatory texts. The new version contains 35,000 words—more than double the length of the old script. The new museum also introduces an advanced audio guide system, featuring 192 points (170 manual and 22 automatic). Visitors can simply press a button on their wireless headphones to hear explanations corresponding to each exhibit panel.

Address: No. 2, Jiefang South Road, Quanshan District, Xuzhou City

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units