Former Site of the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan

Former Site of the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan

The Former Site of the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan is situated at the foot of Lotus Mountain in Shimen Village, Liaocheng Township, She County, covering more than 200 acres. It is named for burying famous anti-Japanese martyrs who died for the nation during the War of Resistance, and is also called “General Zuǒ Quán’s Tomb” by locals because it houses the grave of General Zuǒ Quán, the highest-ranking officer of the Chinese military to be killed in the war and the then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army. The entire cemetery is arranged in three levels: the first level is a circular lotus pond; the second level features the Monument to General Zuǒ Quán, around which are inscribed poems by Zhu De — “A renowned general dies for his country, willing to shed his blood to defend our homeland; the noble spirit of Taihang Mountains shall last forever, leaving behind crimson flowers blooming on the Zhang River” — along with personally written inscriptions by other revolutionary veterans such as Peng Dehuai, Luo Ruiqing, Yang Xiufeng, Bo Yibo, and Rong Wusheng. The third level is General Zuǒ Quán’s tomb.

Centered around General Zuǒ Quán’s tomb, on the left ridge lies the cemetery of Gāo Jiéchéng, the first governor of the Jinnan Bank, and his wife, Lài Qín, also a martyr, as well as the second governor. On the left front ridge is the Memorial Tower for General Fàn Zhùxiān and Mr. Yáng Yùmín. In the left rear depression are the tombs of Hé Yún, president of the Xinhua Daily News Agency, and Zhāng Héngyǔ, secretary-general of the Northern Bureau Political Work Department of the CPC Central Committee. On the right is the Memorial Hall for the Korean Volunteer Army Martyrs, and on the right ridge lie the tombs of the leaders of the Korean Volunteer Army, Shí Zhèng and Chén Guānghuá. The entire burial complex, backed by green mountains and shaded by pines and cypresses, exudes solemnity and grandeur with its diverse architectural styles. It is China’s first cemetery to inter both Chinese and Korean anti-Japanese martyrs.

In 1982, the cemetery was listed as a “Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit” by the Hebei Provincial Government and designated as a revolutionary tradition education base for primary and secondary schools across She County by the She County Education and Sports Bureau. In 2012, it was listed as a municipal-level patriotic education base by Handan City. Every year around Tomb-Sweeping Day, large numbers of Party members, cadres, young students, and international friends visit to mourn, pay tribute to the martyrs, remember their spirits, and honor their great achievements.

With the growing exchanges between the Chinese and Korean peoples, a large number of Korean visitors come here to study and pay homage at the Korean Volunteer Army Martyrs’ Cemetery. Especially in spring and autumn, relevant Korean organizations arrange for groups of students to come to the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan to hold memorial ceremonies. The cemetery has become a place where the people of China and Korea jointly commemorate their blood-sealed friendship and honor the pioneers of the anti-Japanese struggle. The hometown of Martyr Shí Zhèng — Milyang, South Korea — also frequently organizes groups to visit and explore the remnants of the Korean Volunteer Army’s anti-Japanese efforts here.

In recent years, the She County Party Committee and government, as well as the Liaocheng Township Party Committee and government, have invested over 5 million yuan with the theme “Historical Witness, Friendship Rainbow Bridge” to renovate the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan. They constructed a road from Shezuo Road to the cemetery area, and carried out greening and beautification work around the cemetery and along the roadsides. A 3,300-square-meter parking lot, high-standard service kiosks, and restrooms were built. Shàng Róngshēng, a Korean Volunteer Army history research expert from Handan City, was hired as a consultant. A new Korean Volunteer Army Memorial Hall was established, and two staff members were specially employed to manage the cemetery area on a long-term basis, making it a sacred site for visiting, learning, and paying tribute to revolutionary martyrs.

With the deepening of red-themed education, the Cemetery for Revolutionary Martyrs Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan has gradually played an important role in patriotic education. On major holidays such as Tomb-Sweeping Day, Youth Day, Army Day, and National Day, students from primary and secondary schools across the county visit the base to revisit the glorious past, pay respects to revolutionary martyrs, carry forward fine traditions, temper their fighting spirit, and honor the martyrs’ great achievements. Around Tomb-Sweeping Day every year, college students and cadres from various levels of government and organizations within and outside the county continue to visit the cemetery to pay respects, plant trees, and engage in learning and commemoration. During Party spirit education activities such as the Campaign to Maintain the Advanced Nature of Communist Party Members, thousands of Party members come here to mourn the martyrs, renew their oath of joining the Party, and inherit fine traditions. Every January and July, teams from South Korea — the hometown of Martyr Shí Zhèng — also often organize visits to the base for the “Korean Volunteer Army Anti-Japanese Relics Exploration in the Taihang Mountains,” mourning and remembering the martyrs’ great achievements. This has created a new platform for building a friendship bridge between China and Korea and promoting cultural exchange.

Shimen Village: Shimen Village…… More details about Shimen Village++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province