Yangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Yangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Yangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination.

Yangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located in Yangshanji, about 40 kilometers southwest of Jining City. It was constructed in 1952 by the Jinxian County Party Committee, the county government, and the local residents to honor the revolutionary martyrs who gave their lives in the Southwest Shandong Campaign and the Battle of Yangshan. Built along the mountain’s contours atop the main peak of the battle site, Yangtou, the cemetery is majestic in scale and covers nearly 500 acres, with a staff of 14. Major structures within the site include the Southwest Shandong Campaign Memorial Hall, the Panoramic Painting Museum of the Southwest Shandong Campaign, the Wang Jie Memorial Hall, a stele corridor, an armament park, a martyrs’ cemetery, clusters of martyr tombs, and a sculpture group of Liu and Deng. In 1988, it was designated by the Shandong Provincial Government as a “Key Provincial Martyrs’ Memorial Building Protection Unit.” In 2001, it was approved by the State Council as a “National Key Martyrs’ Memorial Building Protection Unit.” In 2009, it was successively recognized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the National Defense Education Office as a “National Patriotic Education Base” and a “National Defense Education Base.” Today, Yangshan Martyrs’ Cemetery has evolved into a large-scale, garden-style memorial complex that integrates commemoration, education, tourism, and services. It is a renowned base for revolutionary tradition education in the Southwest Shandong region.

The name of the Southwest Shandong Campaign Memorial Hall was inscribed by [a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission], who personally participated in the Southwest Shandong Campaign. The hall displays rarely seen precious historical photographs, telegrams, letters, and other revolutionary relics. These include a personal letter from Chairman Mao Zedong to Liu and Deng; a photo of Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping crossing the Yellow River; photographic materials of our army surrounding the enemy at Yangshan and advancing into the Dabie Mountains; as well as books, military campaign histories, photo albums, audio recordings, and video materials related to the Southwest Shandong Campaign. The entire exhibition hall serves as a microcosm of the entire Southwest Shandong Campaign, offering profound educational value. The hundred-meter stele corridor showcases nearly a hundred poems inscribed by notable figures from various sectors of society, veteran generals who took part in the Southwest Shandong Campaign, and calligraphy artists in recent years, all dedicated to commemorating the martyrs who fell in the battle. These works hold significant historical, cultural, and artistic value.

Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Wang Jie (1942–1965) was from Huagu Village, Chengjiao Township, Jinxian County (now Wangjie Village, Jinxian Town). In 1957, when his hometown was hit by flooding, he risked his life to save the production team’s horses. In 1958, he was admitted to Jinxian No. 1 Middle School and would help the production team’s accountant with bookkeeping voluntarily every Sunday when he went home. In 1961, he enlisted in the army, serving as a soldier in the Engineer Company, 1st Platoon of an Armored Forces unit under the Jinan Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army. On February 21, 1963, he wrote in his diary: “No matter what work I do in the future, I must be absolutely loyal to the Party’s cause and brave in striving for revolutionary victory…” More detailed information about Wang Jie ++

Yangshan Town: Yangshan Town is located in the hinterland of Southwest Shandong, in the northwestern part of Jinxian County, known as China’s hometown of garlic. It lies at the junction of Jining and Heze cities, as well as Jinxian, Jiaxiang, and Juye counties, covering an area of 76.8 square kilometers (116°01'4" E, 35°01'0" N). The town enjoys convenient transportation and dense river networks. The Nanxie Line runs east-west through the town, while the Yangma Road crosses it. It is 9.1 kilometers east of National Highway 105 and borders Wanfu River to the south. Jining Airport is 15 kilometers away. The town administers 62 administrative villages, 98 natural villages, 68,000 mu of arable land, and has a total population of 52,000, predominantly Han Chinese… More detailed information about Yangshan Town ++