Rehe Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall

Rehe Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall

The Rehe Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

In December 1955, the Third Session of the First People’s Congress of Rehe Province decided to build the Rehe Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall. Construction began in 1956, and the hall was completed and officially opened to the public in 1964. The memorial is located on Songhe Mountain in the southern part of Chengde City, Hebei Province—a famous historical and cultural city. It faces east and sits on high ground, covering an area of 80,000 square meters. The site features lush pines and cypresses, simple yet elegant architecture, and harmonizes beautifully with the ambiance of the historic city. As you enter through the gate and walk up the steps, the 98 stone steps—designed to follow the natural slope of the mountain—symbolize the Chinese people’s eternal remembrance of the September 18th Incident and the heinous crimes committed by Japanese imperialism during the war of aggression against China. As you ascend, a sense of reverence and solemnity naturally arises. After walking along a 100-meter-long, wide pathway, the main structure of the memorial monument, covering over 1,200 square meters, comes into view. Above the two-tiered stone railing stands the 31.6-meter-high granite Revolutionary Martyrs Monument, crafted by the same skilled artisans who built the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square. Its architectural style, design, and white marble reliefs are all in the same tradition. On the front of the monument, eight golden characters personally inscribed by Chairman Zhu De—"Eternal Glory to the Revolutionary Martyrs"—shine brightly. Behind the monument lies the 1,400-square-meter Exhibition Hall, with a plaque bearing the inscription "Exhibition Hall," written by General Xiao Ke, hanging at the front.

Over the past 40-plus years since its establishment, the memorial has collected millions of words of martyr-related documentation and a large number of revolutionary relics, preserving the names of more than 5,000 martyrs. Through modern exhibition methods—including sound, light, electricity, and sand tables—it has hosted six major exhibitions on the history of the revolutionary struggle in Rehe, displays on the deeds of revolutionary martyrs, and exhibitions of revolutionary relics, attracting over 2 million visitors. It has made outstanding contributions to promoting patriotism, educating young people, and strengthening spiritual civilization. Notable martyrs featured include national hero Sun Yongqin, early revolutionary activists of the Communist Party such as Chen Jinghu and Han Linfu, Deputy Commander of the Jidong Military Sub-district Bao Sen, County Magistrate Yao Tiemin of Qian-Zun-Xing United County, Liu Guiwu—one of the heroes who captured Chiang Kai-shek during the Xi’an Incident, and national combat hero Dong Cunrui, among dozens of others. Among them are over 30 officers at the regimental level or above, with files on more than 200 individuals. Since 1995, the site has been designated as a Patriotic Education Base by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and Government, and the Chengde Municipal Party Committee and Government. It has also been recognized as an Advanced Unit of Spiritual Civilization in Chengde City and a Key Protected Martyrs’ Memorial Building in Hebei Province. Every year, visitors from Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning come here in an endless stream. On major holidays such as Tomb-Sweeping Day, Youth Day, the birthday of the Communist Party, and National Day, people from all walks of life in Chengde hold commemorative activities here. It has become a key venue for young people to take oaths when joining the Young Pioneers, the Communist Youth League, or the Communist Party, or for new soldiers to enlist, as well as for the general public to receive patriotic and revolutionary tradition education. It is a garden-style facility that combines education and tourism and has long served as an important window for the promotion of spiritual civilization in Chengde City.

Travel Guide: The Rehe Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall is located in the central area of Chengde, adjacent to attractions such as the Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Qingchui Peak, and Kuixing Tower. It enjoys convenient transportation with multiple bus routes available. Nearby, there are two three-star hotels—the Lulu Hotel and the Jintai Hotel—that provide high-standard travel services for visitors.