Wu Qin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

Wu Qin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

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

Wu Qin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located at No. 57 North Lingnan Avenue, Foshan City (formerly Nanpu Village, Dafu Road). In 1952, to commemorate Wu Qin, a revolutionary martyr who served as the commander of the Second Guerrilla Detachment of Guangzhou during the War of Resistance against Japan and was ambushed and killed by the Kuomintang forces on the 23rd day of the third lunar month in 1942, the Foshan Municipal People's Government mobilized the people of Foshan and Nanhai County to donate stones and bricks and contribute voluntary labor to construct this revolutionary martyrs' memorial structure.

The cemetery covers an area of 1,750 square meters and is surrounded by an iron fence over two meters high. The main gate is a magnificent two-story glazed-tile memorial archway, with a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Eternal Glory” on the upper level. At the center of the cemetery stands a nearly eight-meter-high monument dedicated to Martyr Wu Qin, beneath which his life story is engraved. On either side of the monument are hexagonal flower beds, each about one square meter in size, with a cement-tiled pointed-roof pavilion in front of each, covering approximately nine square meters. Each pavilion is equipped with stone tables and benches. About five meters behind the back of the monument lie three earthen tombs, which house the remains of Martyr Wu Qin, his younger brother Martyr Wu Jianben, and his former bodyguard Martyr Deng Zhuoying. The surface of the earthen tombs is covered with evergreen grass. Various trees and flowers such as kapok, pine, osmanthus, jasmine, and asparagus fern are planted both inside and outside the cemetery, creating a lush and evergreen environment.

The initial construction quality of Wu Qin Martyrs' Cemetery was relatively poor, and it had suffered years of neglect. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the cemetery gained attention from the Party, government, and relevant departments. In 1982, in response to a proposal by a local People’s Congress representative, the Foshan Municipal Committee and Municipal Government allocated nearly 30,000 yuan in special funds to renovate the cemetery, reinstall the iron gate, build a new guardhouse, and hire dedicated staff for its daily management. In 1989 and 1990, the municipal government further allocated special funds for targeted repairs. Among these, in March 1990, the memorial archway was refurbished and new glazed tiles were installed; the old brick wall was removed and rebuilt on the west and south sides, while iron railings were installed on the east and north sides; the tombstone was reconstructed, pathways were paved, and several flower stands were added with newly planted flowers and plants, giving the cemetery a completely renewed appearance. In recent years, the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government have allocated annual funds for the management and maintenance of Wu Qin Martyrs' Cemetery. In December 1994, the cemetery was designated as a “Foshan Patriotic Education Base” by the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government, and in May 1998, it was recognized as a “Foshan Cultural Relics Protection Unit” by the Municipal Government.

Since its renovation, Wu Qin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery has attracted numerous visitors, including the public and students, who come spontaneously to pay respects during Tomb-Sweeping Festival. The cemetery has become a cultural hub for honoring revolutionary martyrs and educating the public—especially the youth—on revolutionary traditions and patriotism. It also serves as a showcase of Foshan’s spiritual civilization efforts.

Transportation Tip: Wu Qin Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery is located about 100 meters south of the “Municipal Government” bus stop on Lingnan Avenue. Citizens can take bus lines 105, 107, 110, 117, 117B, 120, 133, 135, 139, 141, 153, 280, among others, to visit.

Contact Number: 83334210

Wu Qin (1895–1942), originally named Wu Jianben, was born on November 27, 1895, into a poor farming family in Nanpu Village, Fourth District, Nanhai County, Foshan City, Guangdong Province (now Huan Town, Shiwan District, Foshan City). His ancestors, oppressed by local landlords and tyrants, had migrated from their hometown in Dongguan to Nanpu Village. Despite the family’s hard work, they could barely make ends meet. When Wu Qin was eleven, his father passed away. Having only attended four years of private school, Wu Qin had to drop out and work cleaning latrines in downtown Foshan. Together with his mother, he shouldered the responsibility of raising his three younger sisters and one younger brother... More details about Wu Qin++