Tomb of Huang Zhongying

Tomb of Huang Zhongying

The Tomb of Huang Zhongying is a cultural heritage protection unit of Fuzhou City.

The Tomb of Huang Zhongying is located on the northern slope of Jinniu Mountain in Hongshan Town, Gulou District. It is the family tomb of Huang Zhongying, the first Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Republic of China, and was built in the 29th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1903). In 1988, it was relocated approximately 700 meters behind the original site due to construction, and was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit in 1992.

The original tomb was built with granite and lime-clay structures, featuring nine burial chambers, five levels of terraces, and three layers of protective walls. In front of the earthen mound stood a tombstone and an offering table, with inscribed stone tablets on both sides.

The tomb covers an area of 2,000 square meters, faces north and is situated to the south. It is constructed with brick, stone, and cement, and has an overall shape resembling a Ruyi (scepter). It features five levels of terraces, is 18 meters wide, and 49.6 meters deep. In front of the earthen mound stands a bluestone tombstone engraved with the names of Huang Zhongying, his parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law, totaling ten people. The tomb pillars are inscribed with a couplet: “The fragrant grass grows anew over the freshly built mound; the plum blossoms face from afar the old pavilion.” The mirror screen is inscribed with regular script: “Sacrificial rites are divided among the virtuous hall; pines and cypresses enter the painted screen.” Short screens on both sides are inscribed with “Huju” (holding a tablet) and “Qihui” (holding a flag). On the terrace stands the spirit way stele of Huang Zhongying, measuring 1.42 meters in height and 0.62 meters in width, inscribed with regular script reading “Tomb Garden of Admiral and Minister of the Navy of the Republic of China, the Honorable Huang Zhongying.”

The tomb was built by Huang Zhongfeng and Huang Zhongying during their lifetimes for their parents. After the deaths of Huang Zhongying and his brothers, they were also buried here.

In 1969, an ultra-leftist wave swept through Fuzhou. Under the slogan of “putting grain as the top priority,” the Fuzhou cemetery issued a “Notice” calling for graves to be dug up for farming. Huang Zhongying’s tomb was believed to contain many treasures and was subsequently excavated. By the time Huang Zhongying’s descendants rushed to the scene, they found only scattered bones on the ground, and the tombstone had been moved elsewhere by unknown individuals.

In 1984, the land where the Tomb of Huang Zhongying was located was requisitioned for construction. Thanks to the persistent efforts of Huang Zhongying’s descendants and a proposal submitted to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in August 1988, the Cultural Relics Management Committees of Fujian Province and Fuzhou City, along with the People’s Government of Fuzhou Suburban District, jointly allocated 30,000 yuan to rebuild the tomb according to its original appearance. The reconstruction was completed in March 1990. The newly built tomb is located about 700 meters behind the original site and is several times larger than the original.

It was designated as a district/county-level cultural heritage protection unit in 1986.

In November 1992, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit by the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government.

Hongshan Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Gulou District, Fuzhou City. Established as Hongshan Commune in 1959, changed to a township in 1984, and to a town in 1992. Located in the western suburbs of Fuzhou, on the northern bank of the Min River, it covers an area of 12.4 square kilometers and has a population of 38,000. National Highway 316 runs through the area, with crisscrossing roads within the town. It governs seven village committees: Liming, Xijiao, Shuangxia, Meifeng, Baofu, Guoguang, and Chenguang, as well as eight neighborhood committees: Hongshanqiao, Fengchi, Fenghuangchi, Fenghu, Yishan, Xihé, Jijiuling, Wujian, Fuyu, Poxia, Fenghuangbei, Wenlin, Xi Hou, Fuyudong, Changchun, Xiangshan, Liuxing, Douchi, Xingyuan, Xifeng, Dawang, ... More details about Hongshan Town++