Monument to the Martyrs of Zhanggang Who Died Resisting the Enemy

Monument to the Martyrs of Zhanggang Who Died Resisting the Enemy

The Monument to the Martyrs of Zhanggang Who Died Resisting the Enemy is a classic site on China’s red tourism routes.

The Monument to the Martyrs of Zhanggang Who Died Resisting the Enemy is located in Chongxian Park, Zhanggang Community.

On the eve of the “Kitchen God Festival” in the 33rd year of the Republic of China (1944), a Japanese squad leader named Hirose Kikio led several subordinates into the fishing village with the intent to rape and plunder. This provoked outrage among locals such as Xiao Zongxing (also known as Bangcan), who courageously fought back. The cunning enemy pretended to be dead and escaped. On the 21st day of the 12th lunar month (January 16, 1944), the Japanese captain stationed in Pengcheng Village, Inoue, led a retaliatory force through Baihu, Yanyu, and Xiqiu villages to surround Zhanggang. Along the way, they burned, killed, and massacred the fishing village. Twelve brave locals—Xiao Zongxing, Xiao Zongqin, Xiao Zongyu, Wang Yibao, Xiao Wenxiao, Zhang Mugan, Zhang Mangfeng, Lin Haidang, Lin Guangguang, Xu Caodi, Zheng Yubing, and Zhang Jinguan—died in battle.

The following August, the Fujian Provincial Government allocated funds to build the “Monument to the Martyrs Who Died Resisting the Enemy.” The monument was a three-tiered stone pagoda about 5 meters high, with a base 4 meters wide. It was erected in front of the Zhanggang Mazu Temple. In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, the monument was demolished. Later, through the efforts of the Zhanggang Town People’s Government, the original stone was retrieved and relocated to the front of Xia Li Temple in Zhanggang. In April 2005, due to the construction of the Fuzhou Changle International Airport Expressway, the monument was moved again to Chongxian Park in Zhanggang Community.

In 1998, the Monument to the Martyrs of Zhanggang Who Died Resisting the Enemy was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Changle City by the Changle Municipal People’s Government.