Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery

Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery

Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery is a Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery is located at Shiputan, behind Shitan Village in Xipu Town, Dongshan County, over two li from the county seat of Xipu. Built in 1953, it is a patriotic education base designated by the provincial government and a county-level cultural relics protection unit.

The Battle of Dongshan was the last engagement between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party on the mainland. On July 16, 1953, – the Kuomintang authorities, in an attempt to support the U.S. invasion of Korea and realize their dream of "–ing the mainland," assembled about 13,000 troops, including four main regiments, two naval commando units, and two paratrooper squadrons. Supported by warships, aircraft, and amphibious tanks, they brazenly invaded Dongshan Island.

Facing an enemy ten times their size, the soldiers and civilians of Dongshan Island fought bravely. Eventually, with the strong offensive of reinforcements, they annihilated more than 3,000 Kuomintang troops, who fled in panic by sea. The 36-hour Battle of Dongshan achieved a glorious victory. After the battle, to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending the country, a one-square-kilometer "Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery" was built on Shiputan, where soldiers and civilians had fought fiercely against the Kuomintang army, providing a place for future generations to pay their respects.

The architecture of Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery is majestic and magnificent. Entering from the north gate, visitors are greeted by the tall and solemn "Dongshan Battle Memorial Monument," which stands 13.8 meters high, with the golden words "Dongshan Battle Memorial Monument" inscribed on the front. The back of the monument bears the inscription by Ye Fei, former commander of the Fuzhou Military Region: "The spirits of the martyrs guard the maritime frontier." The pedestal is inlaid with polished bluestone, engraved with inscriptions from various military units and Fujian’s party and government –. The surroundings feature granite steps and exquisitely carved white railings, both beautiful and imposing. To the left of the monument is the martyrs' tomb area, where 465 martyrs rest. The cemetery also houses a memorial tower dedicated to Zhang Xuedong, a battle hero akin to Huang Jiguang.

The memorial pavilion on the right is elegantly designed, featuring couplets such as: "With loyal hearts they rushed to the battlefield, fighting side by side against the enemy amid the roiling battle clouds, shedding crimson blood; green hills bury their heroic souls, forever watching over as the sun rises and red flowers bloom," "Crimson blood bore the fruit of victory, devoted hearts blossomed into glory," and "On the battlefield, we recall the romantic smoke of war as every inch of land was contested; in the cemetery, we gaze upon today's solemn steles that will endure for millennia."

Passing the monument, you reach the "Dongshan Battle Memorial Hall." The two-story hall covers an area of 250 square meters, with a simple yet dignified architectural style. Upon entering the first-floor exhibition hall, the centerpiece is an oil painting symbolizing the theme of "loving peace and defending peace." On the right side of the hall is a statue of a People's Liberation Army soldier, and on the left is a large sand table of the Dongshan Battle. The surrounding walls display over a dozen paintings depicting the entire process of the Dongshan Battle, vividly recreating the scene of the battle.

Ascending to the second-floor exhibition hall, the images on the surrounding walls are divided into four sections. The first section, "Heroes and Role Models," showcases photos and stories of battle heroes and frontline support models. The second section covers logistics support and civilian contributions during the battle. The third section displays inscriptions from party and government leaders. The fourth section, "Rising in the Tide of Reform and Opening-Up," highlights the remarkable achievements made by the soldiers and civilians of Dongshan after the reform and opening-up, as they carried forward the spirit of the Dongshan Battle to develop the economy. In the center of the hall is a row of display cabinets exhibiting lists of martyrs, military medals, and captured war trophies.

Every year on Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dongshan County holds large-scale memorial activities at Dongshan Battle Martyrs' Cemetery. At other times, students, soldiers, cadres, workers, farmers, and people from all walks of life often come to pay their respects and learn from veterans about the heroic deeds of the Dongshan Battle, studying the fearless spirit of those brave soldiers who defended the nation's maritime frontier. It has become an important site for patriotic and revolutionary tradition education.

Address: Shitan Village, Xipu Town, Dongshan County

Transportation: Suburbs of Xipu Town

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Phone: 0596-5887716

Admission: Free

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units