Dabie Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery

Dabie Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery

The Dabie Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural tourism attraction, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Dabie Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery is situated in Yuexi County in the heart of the Dabie Mountains. It is the site of the famous Qingshui Fort, the place where the 28th Red Army was re-established, and served as the political and military center during the three-year guerrilla warfare period in the border region of Hubei, Henan, and Anhui. As part of the national twelve red tourism premium routes and one hundred classic scenic spots, the cemetery receives over 100,000 visitors each year. It is a national-level martyrs’ memorial facility, a key cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province, as well as a provincial-level patriotic education base, national defense education base, and integrity education base. Located at the intersection of National Highways 105 and 318, it is just 1 kilometer from the Yuexi exit of the Dongxiang Expressway, offering convenient transportation.

Established in 1958, the cemetery covers an area of 66,000 square meters. Nestled against a mountain and beside water, it is shaded by lush trees and boasts a beautiful environment. Within the grounds are commemorative facilities and structures including the Dabie Mountain Martyrs Memorial Hall, the Martyrs Monument, the Red Army Pavilion, the Heroes Group Sculpture, the Hundred Steps Staircase, and the Martyrs Tomb Cluster. With an elegant and classic style and orderly layout, the total construction area reaches 8,000 square meters.

The cemetery gate is a classical structure built with blue bricks and gray tiles, dignified and graceful. Upon entering the gate, you will find a large parking plaza and the imposing Hundred Steps Staircase. At the top of the staircase sits a massive Heroes Group Sculpture. Carved from granite, the sculpture vividly depicts the heroic struggle of a generation of brave men and women, represented by martyr Wang Buwen, who fought unyieldingly for the liberation of the people, sacrificing their lives one after another in a tragic and moving scene.

Walking up the steps southward from the group sculpture leads to the majestic Revolutionary Martyrs Monument. Originally constructed in 1958, the monument stands 13.5 meters tall, commemorating the 135,000 martyrs of the Dabie Mountain region. The body of the monument is milky white, built from massive stones, with eight gilded characters personally inscribed by Commander-in-Chief Zhu De reading “Eternal Glory to Revolutionary Martyrs” on the front. Thirty-eight marble pillars stand around the monument, symbolizing the 38,000 heroes and heroines from Yuexi who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

About a hundred meters from the monument lies the core building of the cemetery — the Dabie Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall. The exhibition hall features a double-eaved structure with corridors all around, flying eaves and green tiles, making it an extremely magnificent sight.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, on the left are handwritten inscriptions by Chairman Li Xiannian and Marshal Xu Xiangqian dedicated to the memorial hall. On the right is a huge oil painting titled “Bloody Battles in the Dabie Mountains.” In the center stands a grand group sculpture named “The Passionate Chronicles,” depicting the founding of the Party organizations in the Dabie Mountains, the establishment of four major peasant armed forces, and the formation of the three main Red Armies — a glorious chapter in history. On the back of the sculpture are inscribed the names of more than 2,000 martyrs from Yuexi. The exhibition is divided into six sections, highlighting the revolutionary history of the Dabie Mountain region. It showcases the life stories of over a hundred notable martyrs, including Wang Buwen, the first Secretary of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Gao Jingting, Political Commissar of the 28th Red Army. The hall displays 455 precious revolutionary relics and photos, and employs various artistic forms such as oil paintings, reliefs, and dioramas, along with technological elements like sound, light, and electricity, creating a deeply moving and captivating experience.

Ascending 51 steps from the back of the exhibition hall leads to the highest point of the cemetery. Surrounded by green pines and cypresses, this spot is the burial place of martyr Wang Buwen.

The southwest section of the cemetery is a centralized burial area for scattered martyrs. Nearly a thousand martyrs are laid to rest here, including Chen Lüqian, Political Director of the 34th Red Army Division, and Wang Yichun, a regiment commander of the New Fourth Army.

In the northwest part of the cemetery is a hill where dozens of martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives for revolution and construction in various periods are buried. These include Fang Qiannan, a regiment commander of the 34th Red Army Division; Lin Chengxiang, Political Commissar of the 4th Guerrilla Division of the 28th Red Army; and Wu Yunxia, Secretary of the Qianshan Working Committee.

The northeast section of the cemetery is a beautiful plum and peach orchard that blooms all year round. Some veteran Red Army soldiers who risked their lives in countless battles are buried here. On the back slope of the cemetery stands a Red Army Pavilion, funded by the Nanjing Branch of the People’s Bank of China. The pavilion is nine meters tall, double-layered and octagonal, shining brilliantly. It commemorates the 11th, 12th, 25th, 27th, 28th Red Armies, and the 4th Front Army, all of which were born or fought in the Dabie Mountains. After visiting, guests can climb to the pavilion to rest and enjoy the panoramic view of the mountain city and the beautiful landscape of lakes and mountains.

The Dabie Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery has become an important venue in the old revolutionary base areas for red tourism, promoting patriotism, and providing education on Party history, national defense, integrity, and revolutionary traditions.

Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China