Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

The Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province, a classic red tourism destination, a patriotism education base, and a national defense education base.

The Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery was first built in 1944, covering an area of over 1,000 mu, with a building area of about 3,000 square meters, a memorial square of approximately 2,600 square meters, and green space spanning around 660,000 square meters. The cemetery houses commemorative facilities such as a monument, memorial pavilions, a martyrs' stele corridor, a memorial square, martyrs' tombs, and the Southern Shandong Revolutionary History Memorial Hall. It is divided into upper and lower sections. The upper section includes the tomb of Martyr Zhao Bo, the Zhao Bo Martyrs' Monument, the “Cangshan Uprising” Martyrs' Monument, the “Yinchang Tragedy” Monument, the tomb of Guo Yunfang – commander of the Cangshan Uprising, the tomb of Zeng Mingtao – political director of the Eighth Division of the Shandong Military Region, and the urn burial site of Ding Qiusheng – political commissar of the North Sea Fleet. The lower section of the cemetery is the final resting place of the remains of 3,791 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in various battles including those in Northern Jiangsu, Southern Shandong, and the Huaihai Campaign. The Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is now a provincial-level key protected revolutionary memorial building, a provincial confidentiality education base, a Shandong Provincial National Defense Education Base, a Yimeng Spirit Education Base in Linyi City, a Revolutionary Tradition Education Base for Linyi Youth, and a Party Member Education Base in Linyi City.

The Southern Shandong Martyrs' Cemetery has diligently researched and extensively collected precious documents and historical materials related to the martyrs, enabling high-standard exhibitions at the Southern Shandong Revolutionary History Memorial Hall. The county actively conducted collection efforts across all sectors and organized multiple trips to provincial and municipal cultural relic institutions, as well as to the Zhoushan Garrison Command, among other places, to search for historical data. Staff also held discussions with relatives and comrades-in-arms of the martyrs in their hometowns and at the sites where they fought and died, and convened numerous symposiums with veteran soldiers. These efforts resulted in the collection and replication of over 500 items of military and daily-use equipment, more than 600 relics and works, and the production of over 1,000 various images. The memorial hall is divided into six exhibition halls: “Storm Over Cangshan,” “Flames at Baodu,” “Southern Shandong Smoke of War,” “Deep Bonds Between Soldiers and Civilians,” “Eternal Heroism,” and “Forging Ahead.” Centered around the “Cangshan Uprising,” the establishment of the Baodu Fortress Anti-Japanese Base by Luo Ronghuan and Chen Guang, the Southern Shandong Campaign commanded by Chen Yi and Su Yu, and the support given by Southern Shandong’s people to the army, the exhibitions integrate resources from the Southern Shandong Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery and other revolutionary events in Cangshan County. They showcase the struggles of the people of Southern Shandong during various revolutionary periods. In terms of presentation, the memorial hall highlights individual martyrs while setting them against the backdrop of wartime conditions, closely linking the deeds of the martyrs with the founding of the Party and the history of revolutionary struggle. Photographs and illustrations are incorporated along with easy-to-understand text, making it highly educational and suitable for young audiences. Moreover, modern concepts and multimedia open-display methods are employed, using techniques such as relief carving and three-dimensional sculpture, complemented by sound, light, and electricity effects to create a strong visual and artistic impact.

In recent years, the county party committee and government have invested nearly 30 million yuan on the basis of scientific planning to maintain and construct facilities such as martyrs’ tombs and monuments. The main gate of the cemetery was redesigned, a new martyrs' stele corridor was built, the “Cangshan Uprising” Monument Pavilion was renovated, and a comprehensive Revolutionary History Memorial Hall—the Southern Shandong Revolutionary History Memorial Hall—was constructed to high standards. Trees were planted within the cemetery, marble pathways were laid, and landscaping and beautification efforts were carried out. Regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs are conducted on all types of martyrs’ memorial facilities. Today, the martyrs' cemetery has a rational overall layout, a serene and beautiful environment, a solemn and respectful atmosphere, and is kept clean and tidy year-round. Buildings show no signs of damage or rust, tombs and roads are free of collapse, and stone inscriptions remain bright and clear.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shandong Province