Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery

Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery

Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a classic red tourism destination, a patriotic education base, and a national defense education base.

Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery is located on the east bank of the Yixun River at the foot of Tashan Mountain, northwest of Longhua County, Hebei Province. It was built in 1954 on the former site of the Pologedun Palace of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty to commemorate Dong Cunrui, a nationally renowned combat hero. The cemetery spans 91,600 square meters, making it the largest among all cemeteries named after martyrs in China. The site includes 13 main structures such as a memorial archway, martyrs' monument, statue of Dong Cunrui, martyrs' tomb, memorial hall, and stele forest. It also houses over 210 inscriptions and calligraphy pieces dedicated to Martyr Cunrui by veteran revolutionaries, scholars, and notable figures. In 1982, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Hebei Province. In 1986, it was approved by the State Council as a national key martyrs' memorial building protection unit. In January 1995, it was recognized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a national patriotic education demonstration base. In September 1996, it was named among the "Hundred Patriotic Education Bases" recommended to primary and secondary schools by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Communist Youth League Central Committee, and the General Political Department of the PLA. In 1997, it was designated as a national patriotic education demonstration base by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. By the end of 2004, it was included in the national list of one hundred classic red tourism destinations. In 2008, it was named a provincial-level clean governance education demonstration base by the Hebei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Propaganda Department of the Hebei Provincial Committee. In 2009, it was designated as a national AAAA-level tourist scenic area by the National Tourism Administration and a national-level national defense education demonstration base by the National Defense Education Office. In 2012, it was named one of Hebei Province’s first “Chinese History Education Bases” by the Hebei Provincial Committee and rated as a five-star park in Hebei Province by the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Hebei Province.

To commemorate the immortal achievements of the hero Dong Cunrui, in 1954, with approval and special funding from the former Rehe Provincial Government, Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery was constructed on the former site of the Pologedun Palace of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty in Longhua County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. The cemetery is situated at the foot of Tashan Mountain, on the east bank of the Yixun River, northwest of Longhua County, approximately 60 kilometers north of Chengde City. Initially built in 1954 and subsequently expanded several times, it now covers an area of 71,000 square meters. The cemetery features antique-style architecture with ethnic characteristics and distinct elements of the era.

Basic Introduction

The cemetery's layout is symmetrical along a central axis, facing south. From north to south, it includes: the main gate, memorial archway, statue of Dong Cunrui, Dong Cunrui Monument, and Dong Cunrui Tomb. The central horizontal plaque above the main gate bears the name "Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery," inscribed by General Xiao Ke. On either side of the archway are the Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Pavilion and the Revolutionary Martyrs' Pavilion, as well as the Dong Cunrui Memorial Hall and the Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Hall. At the intersection of the diagonals between the pavilions and halls stands the statue of Dong Cunrui, surrounded by lush cypresses. The hero is depicted in military uniform, head held high, left hand holding a explosive pack aloft, and right hand gripping a lit fuse, embodying his fearless heroic spirit.

Architectural Style

Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery covers an area of 71,000 square meters and features ten main commemorative structures. Its architectural style blends traditional Chinese ethnic elements with a strong sense of the times, appearing both grand and solemn. The symmetrical layout follows a central axis that is 369 meters long, featuring from south to north: the main gate, memorial archway, statue, monument, and tomb. Along two secondary axes, 47 meters behind the sides of the archway, are symmetrically placed structures: the Dong Cunrui Pavilion and the Revolutionary Martyrs' Pavilion; the Dong Cunrui Memorial Hall and the National Defense Education Hall; as well as two inscription stele corridors. Together, these buildings form a comprehensive commemorative complex.

The main gate of Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery was built in 1960. Its four pillars are designed like towering monuments, symbolizing the eternal remembrance of the revolutionary martyrs' glorious deeds. The gears and wheat ears carved on the capitals represent the red government led by the working class and based on the worker-peasant alliance. The central horizontal plaque above the gate bears the name "Dong Cunrui Martyrs' Cemetery," inscribed in bold black characters by General Xiao Ke, with powerful and vigorous strokes.

The memorial archway of the cemetery was built in 1961 and is among its earliest structures. Its design is inspired by the archway at the Korean War Martyrs' Cemetery in China. The structure stands 7.5 meters tall. The archway features six golden Chinese characters—“死难烈士万岁” (Long Live the Fallen Martyrs)—inscribed by Chairman Mao Zedong for the Revolutionary Martyrs' Monument on Yuhuatai in Nanjing, symbolizing the eternal coexistence of the revolutionary spirit with the land.

Along the eastern and western axes of the cemetery stand two corner pavilions. The eastern pavilion is the Dong Cunrui Memorial Pavilion, built in 1961, modeled after the memorial pavilions at the Korean War Martyrs' Cemetery. The central monument in the pavilion is made of reinforced concrete, clad in white polished stone, with nine gilded characters reading “董存瑞烈士永垂不朽” (Eternal Glory to Martyr Dong Cunrui) on the front, and a red inscription detailing Dong Cunrui’s heroic deeds on the back. The opposite western pavilion is the Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Pavilion, identical in structure to the eastern one, with a monument bearing eight gilded characters: “革命烈士永垂不朽” (Eternal Glory to Revolutionary Martyrs).

At the intersection of the diagonals between the pavilions and halls, surrounded by cypresses, stands the statue of Dong Cunrui. The hero is depicted in military uniform, head held high, left hand holding an explosive pack, and right hand clenched in a fist, reflecting his fearless and resolute spirit.

At the center of the oval memorial plaza stands a towering monument. The front of the marble core stone embedded in the monument bears eight golden characters inscribed by Marshal - : “舍身为国，永垂不朽” (Sacrificed for the Nation, Eternal Glory). At the top is a radiant five-pointed golden star, symbolizing the everlasting presence of the hero’s revolutionary spirit with the land, shining forever upon future generations.

There are two stele corridors for Dong Cunrui’s inscriptions, one on the east and one on the west. Each corridor is 4 meters tall, 24 meters long, and 3.2 meters wide at the base. Together, they house 47 memorial steles made of Chinese black granite, inscribed with dedications to Dong Cunrui by national leaders such as Nie Rongzhen, -, Cheng Zihua, -, and Zhu Xuefan, as well as other notable figures. Behind these steles lies the resting place of the martyr—the tomb of Dong Cunrui. The tomb is built of cement on a platform, with a gravestone in front inscribed with “董存瑞烈士之墓” (Tomb of Martyr Dong Cunrui). Behind the gravestone is a small iron door, directly opposite the stone. Upon opening the door, a four-foot-long coffin is placed at the center, with a portrait of Dong Cunrui attached to it. Inside the coffin lies a wooden plaque inscribed in cinnabar with nine characters: “以此木代替烈士遗骨” (This wood replaces the martyr’s remains).

Dong Cunrui was born on October 15, 1929, in Nanshanbao Village, Huailai County (now part of Hebei Province), Chahar Province. He was the fourth of six children in his family, with the childhood nickname “Sidanzi.” At the age of six, he herded sheep in wind and rain, growing up sturdy and strong. Clever, mischievous, and brave, he climbed trees like a monkey and mountains like a rabbit, becoming the “king of the poor kids” in Nanshanbao.

In the early spring of 1940, every household was abuzz with a new topic: “The Eighth Route Army is here!” Led by Nie Rongzhen, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops arrived in northern Ping... [Dong Cunrui detailed information++]