Longyan Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument

Longyan Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument

The Longyan Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument is a Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism site, and a patriotic education base.

The Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument is situated within the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Huling Mountain in Longyan City. It was built to honor the Minxi revolutionary martyrs who gave their lives in various revolutionary wars. The foundation was laid in 1955, and the monument was completed on October 19, 1956. Covering an area of 15 million square meters, the monument stands 25.38 meters tall and is built from white marble and granite. The base consists of three-tiered platforms surrounded by railings, with inscriptions by Deng Zihui, Zhang Dingcheng, Wei Jinshui, Wu Hongxiang, and others on its four sides. It was designated as a Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1991.

Minxi was an important part of the Central Soviet Area during that time. Throughout the long years of revolutionary struggle, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of Minxi fought bravely, with over 100,000 heroic individuals joining the army and participating in battles. There were more than 24,000 registered martyrs, accounting for 53.6% of the total number of martyrs in Fujian Province. To commemorate and honor the great achievements of these martyrs and inspire future generations, the people of Minxi built the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument on Huling Mountain in Longyan City in 1955. In 1984, following the proposal of Tan Zhenlin, a proletarian revolutionary and then Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall was constructed at the northern end of the monument. Preparations for the memorial hall began in 1986, and Chen Pixian, a proletarian revolutionary and former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, personally inscribed the name “Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall.” The hall officially opened to the public on January 1, 1989.

The memorial hall is located on the north side of the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Monument on tree-lined Huling Mountain in downtown Longyan, Fujian Province. The main building features an ethnic-style hall structure, grand and majestic in appearance. Covering an area of 20 acres, the exhibition hall has a construction area of 1,600 square meters, with four major exhibition halls divided into ten units. It is the largest martyrs' memorial hall in the province. The administrative level is set as a division-level unit, under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. The current staff consists of 10 people, organized into an office, cultural relics department, documentation department, and publicity and reception department. It is the only memorial hall in the city dedicated to showcasing the deeds of Minxi revolutionary martyrs. Its primary functions are to provide education on patriotism, communism, and revolutionary traditions, to honor the martyrs, and to inspire future generations.

In June 2009, the municipal Party committee and government placed high importance on the protection and renovation of the memorial hall, investing approximately 70 million yuan to comprehensively renovate both the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall and the Minxi Revolutionary History Museum. The redesign and upgrade strictly followed the standards of a “National First-Class Museum” and one of the “Top Ten National Premium Exhibitions.” The surrounding environment of the museum was also completely transformed, filling the interior and exterior with the atmosphere of the revolutionary war era. It recreates the magnificent and indomitable struggle undertaken by the people of Minxi under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, showcasing the glorious history of “Twenty Years of Unlowered Red Flags.” It also celebrates the heroic aspirations of the people of Minxi who fought bravely across China for national independence and the liberation of the people. The project was fully completed by the end of 2010, presenting a completely renewed appearance. The exhibition is divided into ten units, featuring 122 representative martyrs. The final major exhibition hall showcases outstanding individuals from Minxi, including four Party and state leaders, 71 founding generals, and 90 provincial (ministerial, military) level leaders. The total exhibition line is 463 meters long, with an auxiliary exhibition line of 63 meters, offering rich and detailed content. The exhibition makes full use of sound, light, electricity, as well as a large number of cultural relics, historical photographs, and materials. The display style incorporates red elements with commemorative significance such as monuments, medals symbolizing recognition, wheat ears representing the unity of workers and peasants, and five-pointed stars with revolutionary themes. The bold use of the color red throughout the space achieves a high degree of harmony between the space and the spirit of the exhibition content.

The protection and renovation of the Minxi Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall have been widely praised by the public. Party, government, military agencies, and people from all walks of life visit in an endless stream to pay tribute and hold memorial activities. According to incomplete statistics, during major revolutionary memorial days such as “Qingming,” “Youth Day,” “Party Founding Day,” “Army Day,” and “National Day,” over 200,000 people from various sectors visit and participate in memorial activities each year. Meanwhile, thousands of local citizens visit the surrounding area daily for leisure and exercise. Many visitors have commented that the renovation of the memorial hall and its surroundings has done a great service to commemorating revolutionary martyrs, making good use of the red resources of the old revolutionary base areas, and strengthening revolutionary tradition education. It has provided the public with a wonderful destination and added a new environment of harmonious development between humans and nature to Longyan.