Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery

Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery

Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery serves as a patriotic education base.

Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery is located at No. 136 Haiqu West Road. Established in 1945, it currently covers an area of 42 mu. It is a key provincial-level protected martyrs' memorial building approved by the provincial government, and has been successively awarded titles such as “Advanced Unit of Shandong Provincial National Defense Education Base,” “Advanced Unit in the Management of Provincial Martyrs' Memorial Buildings,” “Advanced Unit of Provincial Civil Affairs System,” a Provincial Patriotic Education Base, and a “Model Unit for Ethical Conduct in Shandong Provincial Civil Affairs System.”

The main commemorative structures in the cemetery now include the Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Memorial Tower, the Rizhao Revolutionary History Memorial Hall, the Rizhao Uprising Memorial Hall, and the martyrs' tomb area.

The Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Memorial Tower is the core commemorative structure of the cemetery. Shortly after the victory of the War of Resistance in the winter of 1945, construction began, and it was completed in the summer of the following year. The entire cemetery is laid out with this tower as its center. The tower is built with bluestone and features a white stone base, taking the form of a rectangular prism. Its structure is rigorous and it stands majestic and grand. The tower is 12 meters high, with a stone-carved statue of an Eighth Route Army soldier in military uniform atop it, standing 2.5 meters tall, holding a rifle and gazing into the distance. On the four sides of the tower’s top are stone plaques inscribed with inscriptions from leaders: the east side bears an inscription by Liu Minsheng (then Vice-Chairman of the Shandong Provincial Senate): “For all eternity, the spirit lives on”; the back side features an inscription by Chen Yi (then Commander of the New Fourth Army and Commander of the Shandong Military Region): “Democracy has been achieved, and the blood was not shed in vain”; the west side is inscribed by Zhang Boqiu (then member of the Shandong Senate and Director of the Wartime High Court): “Heroic deeds are magnificent, enduring as the sea and sky.” The east and west sides of the tower are engraved with the names of 840 anti-Japanese martyrs, including An Zhe, the first County Party Secretary of Rizhao who sacrificed his life during the Rizhao Uprising. The north side of the tower features an elegy for the Rizhao anti-Japanese martyrs, written by Mou Jingtu, then Secretary of the Rizhao County Party Committee, and Xin Ming, then County Magistrate. In 1967, the remains of several martyrs buried in separate locations were moved to the cemetery’s tomb area, and walls, a main gate, and other facilities were constructed. In 1985, the Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall was completed. The two-story hall introduces Rizhao’s history from the First Revolutionary Civil War to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, using a wealth of historical materials, charts, photos, and many precious revolutionary relics to recreate the glorious revolutionary struggles written by the people of Rizhao with their blood and lives under the leadership of the Communist Party of China during the arduous years of war.

In 1985, the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Columbarium was also built. In 1988, the cemetery was expanded northward to cover 42 mu. In 1990, a new north gate in traditional Chinese architectural style—featuring four pillars and three stories—was constructed along with surrounding walls, stone steps, and railings. In 1997, with support from relevant higher authorities, construction began on the Rizhao Uprising Memorial Hall, reception rooms, and martyrs’ memorial pavilions. The Rizhao Uprising Memorial Hall details the Rizhao Uprising that took place in the autumn of 1932—the largest and longest-lasting armed peasant uprising in Shandong at the time. The exhibition follows a chronological order, covering the revolutionary situation in Rizhao before the uprising and the recovery and development of the Party organization after its failure. The display incorporates various modern techniques such as sound, light, and electricity to further enhance its emotional impact and educational effectiveness.

To further elevate the visual standard of the martyrs' cemetery and enhance the appeal of its patriotic education function, in 2009, over 6.6 million yuan was invested in renovating Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery. While maintaining the overall layout largely unchanged, several iconic structures were added within the park, including a Heroes' Monument and a Monument to Unnamed Martyrs. A new tomb area for renowned martyrs of Rizhao was established, the square in front of the tower was expanded, the green spaces within the park were upgraded, and the memorial halls underwent renovation, redesign, and further enhancement. In 2010, during the Qingming Festival, the opening ceremony of the Rizhao Uprising Memorial Hall was held.

Currently, the cemetery houses the remains of 189 martyrs. The original martyrs' tomb area contains 43 tombstones commemorating 48 martyrs, including 10 unnamed martyrs. The renowned martyrs' tomb area features unified horizontal and lying memorial stones for 141 notable martyrs.

Leaders at all levels place great importance on leveraging the cemetery's role as a patriotic education base. We remain committed to inheriting the martyrs’ legacy, promoting patriotism, and advancing social harmony. Serving government agencies, schools, and all sectors of society, we maintain a clear sense of purpose and regard Rizhao Martyrs' Cemetery as a vital platform and showcase window for the city’s socialist spiritual civilization. With the gradual improvement of the cemetery’s infrastructure and the continuous enhancement of its educational functions, we consistently use the commemorative structures and revolutionary relics within the park as carriers and teaching materials. We regularly organize large-scale educational activities to fully leverage the cemetery’s role as a patriotic education base and a hub for spiritual civilization. Each year during the Qingming Festival, the municipal government issues specific notices to arrange memorial and educational events at the cemetery. Over the past decade, the municipal Party committee and government have organized large-scale public events at the cemetery every Qingming Festival to hold solemn commemorative assemblies for revolutionary martyrs, with leading officials from the Party, government, and military taking part and delivering speeches. After the completion of exhibitions at the Rizhao Uprising Memorial Hall and the Rizhao Revolutionary History Memorial Hall, grand opening ceremonies were held, and groups from all sectors of society and students visited the halls in an orderly manner. In terms of educational methods, we combine concentrated holiday-based education with ongoing education. We actively invite and organize various sectors of society—especially military units stationed in the area and schools—to conduct specialized educational activities in the cemetery. We also collaborate closely with the Municipal Propaganda Department, Municipal Government Offices, Communist Youth League Municipal Committee, and Municipal Office of Spiritual Civilization to organize regular visits by Party and League members for patriotic and revolutionary tradition education. The cemetery has also established partnerships with multiple local schools, serving as their off-campus moral education bases and “Lei Feng Responsibility Zones.”