Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located at the western foot of Mount Ba, 13 kilometers northwest of Yishui County, covering a total area of 40,000 square meters.

The main structures of Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery include the main gate, exhibition hall, memorial hall, stele pavilion, memorial tower, martyrs' cemetery cluster, as well as the Gezhuang Battle Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Monument, the Waitou Cliff Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Monument, and others.

The cemetery was first built in December 1944 (by the Yibei Administrative Office), originally located north of Hexi Village.

In 1959, during the construction of the Basha Reservoir, the remains of 220 martyrs from the Hexi Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery were relocated to the southwestern slope of Mount Ba.

On this basis, in 1960, the largest martyrs' cemetery in Yishui County was established and renamed Basha Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery.

In 1990, it was approved by the Shandong Provincial People's Government as a provincial-level key revolutionary martyrs' memorial building protection unit and was renamed Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery.

Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery faces west and is backed by Mount Ba, covered with lush grass and trees. It overlooks the precipitous and rugged Wuer Cliff, undulating distant mountains, and to its right lies the rippling Basha Reservoir with scenic mountain reflections, forming a setting of mountain and water harmony. The main structures of the cemetery include the main gate, exhibition hall, memorial hall, stele pavilion, memorial tower, and martyrs' cemetery cluster. The main gate is a memorial archway-style structure, 11.4 meters high and 10.4 meters wide, with double eaves and resplendent decoration. The white granite lintel is inlaid with eight golden Chinese characters “沂水革命烈士陵园” (Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery), hand-written by Zhang Aiping, former Vice Premier of the State Council.

Upon entering the main gate, the left side houses the cemetery management office, while the right side has the reception room. Directly opposite the gate is a flight of 150 steps built along the mountain. Ascending the steps, the first platform features stele pavilions on both sides, displaying 32 inscription steles from senior revolutionaries such as the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor, and Minister of National Defense — as well as Guo Hongtao, former Secretary of the CPC Shandong Sub-bureau, and other leaders at the provincial or military level and above. The second platform also has stele pavilions on both sides, which are the exhibition halls. Built in 1981 and renovated in 1994, these are corridor-style buildings. Inside, they display images depicting the revolutionary struggle of the people of Yishui and the life stories of the martyrs, presenting a vivid local history of revolutionary struggle. About 25 meters south of the exhibition hall is the Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Hall. The third platform hosts the tombs of notable martyrs, featuring distinctively styled graves of Division Commander Zheng Zhili, Li Qingyi – Technical Secretary of the CPC Shandong District Committee, Division Chief of Staff (Colonel) Shi Yulong, Regimental Commanders Su Liquan and Hou Yilu, Regimental Chief of Staff Zhou Yi, and Wang Hong – Secretary of the Second District Committee. The fourth platform features stele pavilions on both sides, showcasing inscription steles by leaders such as former County Party Secretary Li Hongxiang, former Deputy Party Secretary and County Magistrate Wang Fayi, former Director of the County People’s Congress Standing Committee Ji Xiuzhang, and former Chairman of the County CPPCC Lu Xiutian. On the fifth platform, a public cemetery and a monument relocated from the former Yibei County Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery (north of Hexi Village) are placed on the southern and northern sides respectively. The northern tombstone bears the inscriptions “Martyrs’ Cemetery” and “Heroic Spirits Live On” on its front and back, with the names of 220 martyrs engraved on its left and right sides. The southern monument has the inscription “For the Glory of the Nation” on its front and an epitaph on its back. At the topmost level of the cemetery stands the Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Tower, completed in August 1994. The main memorial tower, together with the auxiliary towers and the martyrs' name list stele behind them, forms an architectural complex with one main tower complemented by several others. The memorial tower is 17.5 meters tall, with a blue granite base supporting a black marble body, which bears seven golden Chinese characters: “Revolutionary Martyrs’ Memorial Tower.” The auxiliary towers are 4.1 meters high, each inlaying three steles commemorating major revolutionary events in Yishui. The 32-square-meter martyrs’ name list stele is engraved with the names of 3,877 martyrs from Yishui and 654 from other regions. The main and auxiliary towers form a mountain-shaped composition, with winding water channels beneath symbolizing that the martyrs are the outstanding sons and daughters nurtured by Mount Yi and the Yishui River. Behind the memorial tower lies the burial area where the martyrs rest.

Honors Received

In 1990, it was approved by the Shandong Provincial People's Government as a provincial-level key revolutionary martyrs' memorial building protection unit. Yishui Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery has been included in the second batch of national anti-Japanese war heritage sites.

Yicheng Subdistrict: Located in the heart of the Mount Yi-Mount Meng region, at the intersection of Donghong and Yanshi highways, Yicheng Subdistrict is the seat of Yishui County People’s Government. Covering a total area of 163 square kilometers, it governs 48 communities (villages), with a population of 170,000, 5,998 Party members, and 49 Party branches in new social organizations and enterprises. In recent years, Yicheng Subdistrict has consistently upheld the work spirit of “unity and striving, serving the overall situation, dedication to duty, and striving for excellence.” Focusing on the two major themes of leading by example and enriching the people to strengthen the subdistrict, the area highlights four key strengths: attracting investment, industrial and private economy, modern high-efficiency agriculture, and mountain-water city construction. It strives to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and advance... More details about Yicheng Subdistrict++