Martyr Kang Guoqiang’s Tomb

Martyr Kang Guoqiang’s Tomb

Martyr Kang Guoqiang’s Tomb is a classic red tourism site.

Martyr Kang Guoqiang’s Tomb is located in Dongkeng Natural Village, Lishan Village, Yuetaang Township, Xiuyu District, Putian City.

Kang Guoqiang (1920–1945), originally named Kang Jinzhao, also used the aliases Lin Ting and Zhang Guoqiang, was from Zhongmen, Putian. In 1938, he joined the Communist Youth League and participated in underground revolutionary activities in the mountainous areas of Putian. In 1939, he became a member of the Chinese Communist Party. From April 1941, after the coastal regions of central Fujian fell to Japanese occupation, he joined the anti-Japanese armed forces organized by the CCP Southern Fujian Special Committee in Zhongmen. He took part in multiple battles against attacks by Japanese puppet troops and the stubborn Kuomintang army, becoming a key member of this force. In July, he was transferred to the guard unit of the CCP Southern Fujian Special Committee. After the “Jiangtian Incident” in April 1942, following organizational instructions, he went undercover under the alias Zhang Guoqiang and infiltrated the puppet army unit led by Zhang Tianzhen as captain of the special service squad. He secretly led over 60 guerrilla fighters, conducting concealed anti-Japanese and anti-puppet resistance operations at sea. In 1943, the Putian guerrilla unit merged with the Pingtan and Fuqing units that had earlier infiltrated the puppet army’s second battalion, and were reorganized as the second company of that battalion, with Kang serving as company commander. Operating within the enemy camp, he engaged in complex struggles against the Japanese, puppets, diehards, and special agents. He repeatedly intercepted enemy and puppet transport ships, seizing large quantities of weapons, supplies, cash, and gold, which were transported inland to serve as operational funds for the provincial and special committees’ anti-Japanese efforts. These resources also helped equip the land-based guerrilla forces and supplied them with trained military personnel. In May 1945, during the battle on Nandao Island, he dispatched forces to reinforce the guerrillas and later participated in the suppression of traitors. This was detected by the puppet army leadership. In June 1945, he was arrested during the “Dongwu Incident” and was executed by the puppet army command on charges of “collaborating with bandits” and “unauthorized execution of soldiers.” He was killed at the foot of the watchtower by Dongwu Village seaside.

Martyr Kang Guoqiang’s Tomb was built in 1953 by the Putian County Old Revolutionary Base Committee in honor of the martyr. It covers an area of 40 square meters and is currently well preserved.

Source: Putian Municipal Party Committee Party History Research Office