Martyrs' Shrine of Yanggu County

Martyrs' Shrine of Yanggu County

The Martyrs' Shrine of Yanggu County is located in Beimen Village, Shouzhang Town, Yanggu County.

The main gate of the shrine faces west and features a memorial archway-style structure that is grand and magnificent. At the very top, four golden Chinese characters “英烈千秋” (Heroes Through the Ages) are inscribed in bold regular script. The facing archway bears the inscription by Comrade Mao Zedong: “人民英雄永垂不朽” (Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes). To the north lies the pathway leading to the memorial hall, which involves ascending steps, with cypresses and evergreen plants planted on both sides. The memorial hall is situated at the highest point in the northern end of the shrine. It faces south and is a modern building constructed with cement, exuding solemnity and reverence. Above the entrance hall of the memorial hall, five golden characters “丹血照汗青” (Blood Stains the Annals of History) are inscribed. On both sides of the entrance hall are written “捐躯报国” (Sacrifice for the Nation) and “鞠躬尽瘁” (Devote Oneself Entirely). Inside the memorial hall, 17 commemorative steles stand on the northern side, engraved in regular script with the names of 607 revolutionary martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives during the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Liberation War. Among them, 166 are martyrs from what is now Yanggu County, and 441 are from Taiqian County and Liangshan County. On the eastern side of the hall, the ashes of 21 martyrs who died after the liberation are enshrined.

The Martyrs' Shrine of Yanggu County was originally built in April 1948 and was renovated and reconstructed in the spring of 1982. The shrine covers an area of 9.8 mu, with a total construction area of 453.75 square meters, including eight rooms for the memorial hall, covering a construction area of 270 square meters, and seven auxiliary facility rooms, covering a construction area of 183.75 square meters.

Every year on Tomb-Sweeping Day, many students and members of the public come to pay their respects, lay flowers, and mourn the fallen.

Shouzhang Town: Located in the southern part of Yanggu County, at the border between Shandong and Henan provinces, Shouzhang Town is one of the important passages from Shandong Province to the Central Plains. Originally named "Wangling Dian" (Wangling Store), the county seat of Shouzhang County was relocated here in the 13th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1380), and thus the town was renamed Shouzhang. In 1964, the county was abolished, with the area north of the Golden Dyke designated as Shouzhang District. In 1971, it was changed to Shouzhang People's Commune, and in 1982, it became Shouzhang Town. In 2001, the former Sipeng Town was merged into it. It currently administers 67 administrative villages, has a population of 71,000, and cultivates 56,000 mu of arable land.

Shouzhang Town has a long history and many historical sites. … More details about Shouzhang Town++