Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

The Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

On Huling Mountain in the urban area of Longyan City, Fujian Province, there is a solemn, grand, well-organized, and uniquely landscaped martyrs' cemetery. In 1989, approved by the State Council and announced by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, it was listed as the second batch of National Key Martyrs' Memorial Buildings under Protection. In 1995, it was designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as one of the first 100 patriotic education sites. It serves as an important base for revolutionary tradition and patriotic education in Minxi.

Minxi was an important part of the former Central Soviet Area and the homeland of the Red Army. Every inch of land here is stained with the blood of martyrs; every mountain is shrouded in the smoke of battle; every river witnessed the brave fights of the Red Army. During the long years of revolutionary struggle, over 100,000 sons and daughters from Minxi joined the Red Army. Of the 86,000 soldiers of the Central Red Army during the world-famous 25,000-li Long March, 28,000 were outstanding individuals from Minxi. Back then, when the Central Red Army forcefully crossed the Xiang River and broke through the Kuomintang’s fourth blockade line, it was the 34th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps—composed of over 6,000 Minxi soldiers—who were entrusted with the critical rear-guard mission. Most of them shed their blood in the Xiang River. Also, the 22nd Division of the 9th Red Army Corps—made up of more than 2,000 Minxi soldiers—suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Gaotai west of Gansu. For the victory of China’s revolution, many outstanding individuals from Minxi sacrificed their precious lives. Just after the liberation, over 24,000 revolutionary martyrs were officially recognized, accounting for 53.6% of the total martyrs in the province. In addition, there were countless unnamed martyrs, over 160,000 civilians perished, more than 40,000 families were wiped out, and over 600 villages were burned to the ground. After the Long March, the Red Army guerrilla forces led by Zhang Dingcheng, Deng Zihui, and Tan Zhenlin remained in Minxi to carry out three grueling years of guerrilla warfare. They shattered five brutal “pacification” campaigns by 150,000 Kuomintang troops, endured the devastation of the “Three Alls” policy of village relocation and scorched earth, preserved large areas of old guerrilla bases and the fruits of the land revolution across a population of 200,000, and created the miracle of “20 years of unyielding red flags.” They composed magnificent and glorious epic tales of heroism and forged the unique spirit of the Minxi revolutionary base.

To commemorate the heroic deeds of the martyrs and promote patriotic and revolutionary tradition education, the people of Minxi built the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument in July 1955 in Longyan County, the seat of the Longyan Prefecture. After several rounds of planning and renovation, it has become a uniquely landscaped martyrs' cemetery and an important base for revolutionary tradition and patriotic education in Minxi.

The Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery now covers an area of 122 mu. The park is filled with tall pine trees, offering spectacular scenery. The monument stands 25.35 meters high and is constructed from more than ten different specifications of marble. The horizontal top of the monument features relief carvings of auspicious clouds, while the base is surrounded by granite railings. The base is inscribed with calligraphy by Zhang Dingcheng (“Eternal glory to the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country and the people” on the north side), Deng Zihui (“Eternal glory to the revolutionary martyrs” on the south side), Wei Jinshui (“The heroic names of the revolutionary martyrs will live forever” on the east side), and Wu Hongxiang (“The spirit of the martyrs who died for the revolution will endure” on the west side). At the top of the lintel wall of the main gate on the south side of the cemetery is a plaque inscribed with “Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery” by Chen Pixian, a veteran proletarian revolutionary. Below the stone plaque, white marble bears an inscription that highly summarizes the revolutionary struggles in Minxi and praises the dedication of the martyrs. Other structures in the cemetery include the Glory Pavilion, Xiafei Gate, and the tomb of martyr Guo Diren. Guo Diren (1907–1936), from Longyan, Fujian, was one of the founders of the Minxi Party organization and the Minxi Revolutionary Base. After joining the Long March and arriving in northern Shaanxi, he served as Minister of Propaganda for the Shaanbei Provincial Committee of the CPC, among other positions. He passed away in 1936 in Bao’an, Shaanxi.

At the northern end of the cemetery is the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall, which was completed in October 1986.

“Commending the martyrs and educating the public” is the fundamental mission entrusted to the cemetery by the government and society. Every year, a continuous stream of party, government, military institutions, and people from all walks of life visit the cemetery and participate in commemorative activities. According to incomplete statistics, over 1 million visitors come to the cemetery on major revolutionary memorial days such as “April 5,” “May 4,” “July 1,” “August 1,” and “October 1.” During the Qingming Festival each year, party, government, and military institutions, primary and secondary schools, and various sectors of society organize visits to the cemetery to pay tribute to the monument, sweep the martyrs’ tombs, and engage in diverse patriotic activities.

In recent years, the overall renovation plan of the cemetery has followed the concepts of “people-oriented design, consistent themes, and building a harmonious landscape,” along with “solemnity and convenience for visitors.” Efforts have been made to beautify the cemetery, developing it toward ecological, green, and park-like settings to highlight the timeless spirit of the martyrs. In response to the municipal party committee and government’s initiative to create a “green, bright, and beautiful” city center, creating a pleasant environment has been a focus of work. Through balanced spatial planning, the open spaces and barren slopes of the cemetery have been scientifically and rationally arranged. Harmonious and bright colors have been used, new scenic spots have been added, existing healthy trees have been preserved, and grass and trees have been planted to create plant-based landscapes where citizens can enjoy leisure.

Over 8 million yuan has been invested in the protection and renovation of the cemetery, achieving the “Five Modernizations”: themed cemetery ambiance; beautified and green environment; illuminated nightscape lighting; convenient hardened traffic access; and park-like leisure areas for visitors.

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