Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery (Ciping)

Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery (Ciping)

The Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery (Ciping) is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic red tourism destination.

The Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery faces south and overlooks the majestic main peak of Jinggang Mountain. Surrounded by lush pines and cypresses, the solemn site is built against the mountain and consists of four parts: the Memorial Hall, the Stele Forest, the Monument, and the Sculpture Garden. There are two sets of steps leading up the mountain. The first set has 49 steps, symbolizing the founding of New China in 1949. The second set has 60 steps, signifying that the cemetery was completed in October 1987, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base. In October 1997, the "Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument," inscribed by Deng Xiaoping, was unveiled.

To commemorate the great achievements of proletarian revolutionaries such as Mao Zedong in establishing the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base, to promote the Jinggangshan Spirit, and to carry out patriotic education, the Jinggangshan Municipal Party Committee and Government built the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery in 1985 on the lush, tree-covered northern mountain of Ciping. It officially opened to the public in October 1987. The cemetery consists of four main parts: the Monument, the Memorial Hall, the Sculpture Garden, and the Stele Forest.

The main monument is made of titanium-plated stainless steel. It stands 27 meters tall, symbolizing the founding of the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base in 1927. The design of the main monument highlights the shape of a "mountain." It carries several layers of meaning: from a distance, it resembles a flame, symbolizing the "spark that can start a prairie fire" spirit of Jinggangshan; up close, it looks like rows of steel guns, symbolizing that "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." The inscription on the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument was personally written by Comrade [name omitted].

The Sculpture Garden is the first of its kind in China dedicated to revolutionary history. It features 20 statues of key leaders and notable figures from the Jinggangshan struggle period, including those from the Front Committee, the Military Commission, and the Special Committee.

The Stele Forest contains 140 inscribed stone tablets, featuring calligraphy from veterans of the Jinggangshan struggle, inscriptions by Party and state leaders during their visits to Jinggangshan, as well as works by renowned calligraphers and public figures.

The Memorial Hall includes a Hall of Remembrance, an Exhibition Room, a Mourning Hall, and the Hall of Loyal Souls. The Hall of Remembrance is where people pay tribute to the martyrs and lay wreaths. The front white marble wall bears six gilded characters—“Eternal Glory to the Fallen Martyrs”—written by Mao Zedong. The Hall of Loyal Souls houses the ashes of five veteran Red Army soldiers: Zhang Lingbin, He Changgong, Wen Yucheng, He Minxue, and [name omitted].

History is recorded in four ways: first, through words written in books; second, through architecture preserved in the world; third, through legends passed down by the people; and fourth, through cultural relics buried underground. “Any building, whether in the West or the East, is not merely a material concept. It is imbued with a distinct spiritual character and rich cultural connotations. Architecture is the most direct dialogue between humans and nature, where people vividly present to nature the insights and inspirations they gain from it. Ancient Western architecture is religious, theocratic, and economic; ancient Chinese architecture is ethical, monarchic, and political.” I no longer remember when or where I copied this passage into my notebook, but it always echoes in my mind when I enter the Jinggangshan North Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery, prompting me to view Beishan from such a perspective. Gradually, I realized that the message of Beishan is a reflection on life itself.

Architecture is an expression of culture, a statement of politics, and an extension of spirit and thought. The result of Qin Shi Huang’s book burning and persecution of scholars left the Chinese with the imprints of “guilt by association” and “collective punishment.” The Chinese have become accustomed to using indirect, obscure, and metaphorical ways of expression, either waiting for the right moment in seclusion or retreating into monastic life to escape worldly affairs. Such thinking and ideology, when reflected in Chinese architecture, require deep humanistic insight to truly understand. That’s why, when I look at some ancient buildings, it’s like reading English. I recognize every letter, but when they come together to form sentences and then articles, I often find myself either partially understanding or completely lost. It makes me deeply aware of the profoundness of thought, the greatness and indomitable nature of humanity, and the eternal truth that existence is permanence.

Time Needed

2 hours

Ticket

Included in the general admission ticket

Opening Hours

[Summer/Autumn (March 16–November 15)] 8:00–17:00

[Winter/Spring (November 16–March 15)] 8:30–16:30

1. Last entry at 17:00 in summer/autumn, and at 16:30 in winter/spring.

2. Closed all day on Tuesdays.

Location

Ciping Town, Jinggangshan City

Ciping Town: Ciping Subdistrict is located in the central scenic area of Ciping, Jinggangshan Scenic Area, Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province. It covers an area of approximately 3.8 square kilometers, with 6,036 households and a total population of 20,098 (based on the Sixth National Population Census, including 14,459 permanent residents). The area includes four community neighborhood committees. Administratively, it borders the forest farms under the jurisdiction of the Jinggangshan Administration Bureau and the Jinggangshan Nature Reserve Management Bureau. To the west is the Dajing Forest Farm, to the south is the Zhusha Forest Farm, and to the northeast is the Ciping Forest Farm.

The Ciping Subdistrict Party Working Committee and the Ciping Subdistrict Office are respectively the... Ciping Town detailed information++