Beizhang Martyrs' Cemetery

Beizhang Martyrs' Cemetery

Beizhang Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shandong Province.

Beizhang Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located 20 meters west of Beizhang Village, Mingji Township, Lijin County, on the east bank of the Taiping River. The cemetery stretches 55 meters from north to south and 38 meters from east to west, covering an area of 2,090 square meters. It contains 72 tombs, each about 1 meter in diameter and 0.5 meters high, along with one memorial stele and one inscription tablet. In 1943, the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army’s Reclamation Area encountered Japanese forces in Beizhang Village and engaged in fierce combat. Outnumbered, 72 soldiers sacrificed their lives heroically.

To honor these martyrs, in 1963, local government and residents relocated the remains of the 72 soldiers here and established a cemetery. In 1970, the county government allocated funds to renovate the cemetery and build a brick flower wall. In June 1980, the county government erected a martyrs’ memorial stele. Five meters south of the tombs stands a memorial stele facing south, situated on a 1.2-meter-high rectangular platform. The stele is about 2 meters tall and inscribed with the words “Eternal Glory to Revolutionary Martyrs.” On its back are engraved the names of the martyrs. To the west of the memorial stele is an inscription tablet, approximately 3 meters long and 2.5 meters high, facing east. It describes the “Bloody Battle of Beizhang.” On every Tomb-Sweeping Day, local government organizes officials, students, and residents to pay tribute and mourn the fallen heroes.

On June 23, 2015, Beizhang Martyrs' Cemetery was designated as part of the fifth group of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

Mingji Township: Located in the western part of the county, 9.7 kilometers from the county seat, Mingji Township governs 31 natural villages and 38 villagers' committees. It has a total of 6,071 households and a population of 18,643, including 9,340 males and 9,303 females, with 806 non-agricultural residents. The township covers a total area of 118.5 square kilometers, including 5,161 hectares of arable land, of which 3,467 hectares are effectively irrigated. … More details about Mingji Township++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units