Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin

Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin

The Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

The Monument to Qiu Jin, located in the city center of Shaoxing, marks the site where the martyr Qiu Jin was executed. The monument stands 7 meters tall and is square-shaped, having been completed in 1930. The front (west) side of the base bears the inscription "Record of the Monument to Martyr Qiu" written by Cai Yuanpei and calligraphed by Yu Youren, while the body of the monument is inscribed with the words "Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin," calligraphed by Zhang Jingjiang. Originally at Xuan Tingkou there was a Hou Xuan Pavilion, built by Tang Dynasty Observation Commissioner Li Shen, later followed by a building constructed along the street in front of the pavilion. Today both the pavilion and the building are gone. Now, a "Xuan Tingkou" memorial archway has been erected on the west side of the monument, and an alabaster statue of Qiu Jin stands on the east side, behind which the wall is inscribed with the four characters "Heroine of Her Time" (巾帼英雄), handwritten by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It is a Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The front (west) side of the base bears the inscription "Record of the Monument to Martyr Qiu" written by Cai Yuanpei and calligraphed by Yu Youren, while the body of the monument is inscribed with the words "Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin," calligraphed by Zhang Jingjiang. Originally at Xuan Tingkou there was a Hou Xuan Pavilion, built by Tang Dynasty Observation Commissioner Li Shen, later followed by a building constructed along the street in front of the pavilion. Today both the pavilion and the building are gone. Now, a "Xuan Tingkou" memorial archway has been erected on the west side of the monument, and an alabaster statue of Qiu Jin stands on the east side, behind which the wall is inscribed with the four characters "Heroine of Her Time" (巾帼英雄), handwritten by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It is a Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qiu Jin (1875–1907), a modern democratic revolutionary, was originally named Qiu Guijin, with the courtesy name Xuánqīng, art name Dànwú, and childhood name Yùgū. After going to Japan, she changed her name to Jǐn, also using the alias (or art name) Jìngxióng, referring to herself as the "Knight-Errant of Jianhu Lake." Her pen names included Qiānqiān and Hànxiá Nǚ'ér, and she also used the alias Báipíng. She was a native of Shanyin, Zhejiang (now Shaoxing), but born in Xiamen, Fujian. Qiu Jin scorned feudal rites and advocated gender equality, often comparing herself to figures like Hua Mulan and Qin Liangyu. Bold and chivalrous, she studied literature and martial arts, and funded her own trip to Japan for study. Actively engaged in revolution, she joined several revolutionary organizations including the Triads, the Restoration Society, and the Tongmenghui, attempting to coordinate secret societies to respond to the Pingliu-Li Uprising—though this effort was unsuccessful. In 1907, she and Xu Xilin organized the Restoration Army, planning simultaneous uprisings in Zhejiang and Anhui on July 6, but the plot was exposed and she was arrested. On July 15 of the same year, Qiu Jin was executed with composure at Xuan Tingkou in Shaoxing.

The Monument to Qiu Jin stands at the site where the heroine made her brave sacrifice. Following the failure of Xu Xilin’s uprising in Anhui on July 6, 1907, a week later Qing troops surrounded the Datong School in Shaoxing, where Qiu Jin was unfortunately captured. Under severe torture and interrogation, she remained resolute and unyielding, maintaining her integrity and dignity, and was executed with great courage at Xuan Tingkou in the early hours of July 15. In memory of the martyr, people raised funds to build this monument for the female revolutionary. The monument was completed in November 1933, with the seven golden characters "Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin" engraved on its body, accompanied by the inscription written by Cai Yuanpei, all enclosed by stone railings. This towering monument will forever stand in the hearts of the people.

The Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin is located at Xuan Tingkou in the city center of Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. The ancient Xuan Tingkou is said to have had a pavilion originally built during the Tang Dynasty. Though it was built and destroyed many times, it no longer exists. This area has always been the bustling center of Shaoxing, situated at the intersection of the north-south thoroughfare and the horizontal street in front of the prefectural office—just like the “T-junction street” described by Lu Xun in his famous short story "Medicine."

The site is located at Xuan Tingkou on Jiefang Road in downtown Shaoxing. Built in 1930 to commemorate the martyr Qiu Jin, the monument stands on the site where she was executed on July 15, 1907. It is a vertical rectangular structure, standing 7 meters tall in total, and consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the top.

The base is 3 meters on each side, with its front (west) side bearing the inscription "Record of the Monument to Martyr Qiu" written by Cai Yuanpei and calligraphed by Yu Youren. The body of the monument is inscribed with the words "Monument to the Martyr Qiu Jin," calligraphed by Zhang Jingjiang. The monument is surrounded by protective railings. Qiu Jin was an outstanding democratic revolutionary and a pioneer of the women's liberation movement in modern China. The monument, built on the site of her execution, holds significant commemorative value.

Address: Guxuan Tingkou, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City

Type: Monument

Recommended visiting time: 0.5 hours

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

No admission fee.

Qiu Jin (1875–1907), female, originally named Guījǐn, with the courtesy name Yùzhēn, childhood name Yùgū, later renamed Jǐn, also known by the courtesy name Xuánqīng, art names Jìngxióng and Jiànhú Nǚxiá, alias Hànxiá Nǚ'ér, and also signed as Qiānqiān. A native of Lízhǔ (Fúquán) in Shānyīn, Shaoxing, she was born in Mǐnhòu County, Fujian.

The Qiu family was a prominent clan in Shānyīn, with several generations of officials. From a young age, Qiu Jin enjoyed poetry and literature, especially admiring swordswomen, and was bold and uninhibited. As she grew older, she learned stick fighting, boxing, horse riding, and fencing from her fourth cousin, developing a strong-willed personality. In the early summer of 1891, the 17th year of the Guangxu reign, Qiu Jin followed her grandfather Qiu Jiahe back to Shaoxing, residing at Héchàngtáng in the southern part of the city. The following year... (Detailed information about Qiu Jin++)

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units