West Lake Park (West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery)

West Lake Park (West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery)

West Lake Park (West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery) is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism destination, a patriotic education base, and a national defense education base.

The West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery was originally named the West Lake District Anti-Japanese War Martyrs' Cemetery and was built in 1945 by the former West Lake Regional Committee, Administrative Office, and Military Sub-district to collectively bury and honor the revolutionary martyrs who died in the War of Resistance against Japan on the land of West Lake. In 1946, Kuomintang forces invaded Shan County, causing serious damage to the cemetery. In 1952, the West Lake Regional Committee renovated it and renamed it the West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery. In 1984, with the strong support and care of Liang Buting, then Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee, and the Shandong Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, the memorial tower and west gate were rebuilt, a south gate was newly constructed, and the entire park was refurbished. In the spring of 1986, thousands of people — including West Lake veterans from across the country, representatives from over twenty counties in six cities across four provinces (Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui), as well as cadres, workers, and students from government offices, factories, and schools in urban Shan County — attended the inauguration ceremony of the new tower. Chen Puru, former Secretary of the West Lake Regional Committee and Minister of Railways; Liang Buting, former Secretary of the West Lake Youth Committee and Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee; Qin Hezhen, former Secretary-General of the West Lake Regional Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress; and Yan Zhuo, Commander of the Shandong Military Region, among others, cut the ribbon for the martyrs’ tower and presided over the memorial service. In 1992, the Shan County Party Committee and County Government mobilized cadres, masses, and veterans from across the country to raise over 3 million yuan for the renovation and expansion of the cemetery. In 2008, Shan County invested more than 60 million yuan to expand the cemetery both westward and eastward, increasing its area to 420 acres. New structures such as the Heroes Pavilion, Memorial Square, and Anti-Japanese War Memorial Pavilion were added. The cemetery took on a completely renewed look, achieved significant scale, blended scenery with commemoration, and integrated education within the setting.

After several phases of construction, the cemetery now mainly features over twenty key commemorative structures, including the West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Tower, Heroes Pavilion, Haoran Pavilion, Anti-Japanese War Memorial Pavilion, Jun Pavilion Corridor, Martyrs’ Names Monument, two individual martyr tombs, four collective martyr tombs, and a memorial square. A total of 2,649 martyrs are buried here. Among them are notable figures such as Wang Wenbin, pioneer of the West Lake Anti-Japanese Base Area and Secretary of the Su-Lu-Yu Special Committee of the Communist Party; Li Zhenqian, Commissioner of the West Lake Administrative Office; and Wu Daming, a brigade commander of the People’s Liberation Army.

For over half a century, the West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery has received care and support from the Party and state leaders as well as the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government. Leaders such as Liu Bocheng, Yang Dezhi, Song Renqiong, Shu Tong, Pan Fusheng, and Liang Buting have inscribed words or calligraphy for the cemetery. Deng Xiaoping also offered opinions regarding its construction. It has also benefited from generous support and contributions from veteran cadres and public figures both in China and abroad, with over a thousand individuals providing advice and donating funds.

With strong support from Party committees, governments, and leaders at all levels, and after multiple renovations, expansions, and restorations, the West Lake Martyrs' Cemetery now boasts numerous scenic spots with rational layouts and comprehensive facilities. Coupled with Shan County’s central location and the historical influence of the West Lake region, the cemetery attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for remembrance and sightseeing. In light of this, in 1988, the cemetery was approved by the Shandong Provincial People's Government as a Provincial Key Martyrs’ Memorial Building Protection Unit; in 1996, it was designated as a Shandong Provincial National Defense Education Base; in 1998, it was recognized as a Shandong Provincial Patriotic Education Base; and in 2001, it was approved by the State Council as a National Key Martyrs’ Memorial Building Protection Unit.

For many years, during the Qingming Festival, cadres and masses from Shan County and surrounding counties and cities gather at the cemetery to mourn the martyrs and receive education. On regular days, the cemetery is bustling with visitors daily, where elderly individuals point out sites and explain the significance of the cemetery and its monuments to youths and tourists. In addition to local visitors, thousands of mourners come each year from provinces such as Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Shanxi, and Hebei. Some travel thousands of miles with their families, laying flowers, leaving deep sentiments, taking a handful of earth infused with endless emotions — scenes that are deeply moving. Groups of young people hold team activities or coming-of-age ceremonies at 18, pledging to carry on the martyrs’ legacy, study hard, and contribute more to their country in the future — scenes that are truly inspiring.

The West Lake Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery serves not only as an important site for the public, especially youths, to receive patriotic and revolutionary tradition education, but also as an ideal place for leisure and sightseeing.

East end of Health Road, Shan County, Heze City, Shandong Province