Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery

Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery

Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural relic protection unit of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery is situated on Gengnao Slope in the west of Donglan County. It originally occupied 94.7 mu, with a building area of 29,720.5 square meters. The site features commemorative structures such as a gate pavilion corridor, antique-style archways, a martyrs' memorial hall, a martyrs' memorial tower, the tomb of martyr Wei Baqun, the Liberation of Donglan Martyrs Monument, a group of heroic sculptures, stone statues of famous martyrs, memorial pavilions, and a memorial activity square. The martyrs' memorial hall displays exhibition panels stretching 190 meters and houses over 600 historical relics and artifacts. The exhibition is divided into nine sections across eight halls, covering 1,420 square meters: "The Period of the Great Revolution and the Agrarian Revolutionary War," "The Period of the War of Resistance Against Japan," "The Period of the Liberation War," "Bandit Suppression," "Aiding Vietnam Against the U.S. and the Korean War," "The Counterattack in Self-Defense Against Vietnam," "Generals and Veteran Red Army Cadres," "Memorial Activities for the Martyrs," and "Creating the Future." In 2009, to commemorate the 115th anniversary of Wei Baqun’s birth, the county Party committee and government decided to expand the cemetery. The expansion added 120 mu of land, with 88.2 mu designated for construction. The engineering project includes structures such as a Generals’ Park, generals’ statues, a plaza, and the Wei Baqun Martyrs Memorial Hall.

Originally named "Wei Baqun Martyrs' Cemetery," it was funded and built by the Central People's Government in 1956. In 1958, Marshal Zhang Yunyi inscribed the name "Revolutionary Martyrs Park" and the title "Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower." In February 1963, the "Wei Baqun Martyrs' Cemetery" was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. On October 15, 1986, the State Council listed the Donglan "Revolutionary Martyrs Park" as one of the first national key martyrs’ memorial buildings, and the name was changed to "Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery." In May 1988, General Yang Dezhi inscribed the name for the "Donglan Martyrs Memorial Hall." In December 1995, the "Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery" was named a patriotic education base of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. On May 8, 2006, it was designated a national youth education base by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. In August 2007, the Autonomous Region Commission for Discipline Inspection listed it as a Guangxi Party member and cadre education base. Since liberation, the Donglan Martyrs' Cemetery has been a key venue for revolutionary tradition education in the region.

Wei Baqun was one of the three great leaders of China’s early peasant movement (alongside Mao Zedong and Peng Pai), a pioneer of the peasant movement in Guangxi, one of the leaders of the Baise Uprising, a senior commander of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, and a leader of both the Seventh Red Army and the Youjiang Revolutionary Base in Guangxi.

Wei Baqun (1894–1932), also known as Wei Bingji, Wei Bingqian, and Wei Cui, was from Dongli Village, Wuzhuan Town, Donglan County, Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Of the Zhuang ethnic group. After leading the peasants in revolution starting in 1921, Wei Baqun, deeply respected by people of all ethnicities, … More details about Wei Baqun ++

Chen Hongtao (1905–1932), originally named Chen Suhua, was of the Zhuang ethnic group and from Shangxu Village, Wuzhuan District.

In 1924, he was admitted to Bose Provincial No. 5 Middle School and was elected president of the student union. Soon after, he organized the "Dongfeng Liuyong Color Study Society" and was chosen as the Bose branch president. In 1925, he dropped out and returned to his hometown to join the peasant revolutionary movement led by Wei Baqun. That winter, the Kuomintang Guangxi Provincial Party Department established a training institute for propagandists in Wuzhou. Under the name of the Kuomintang Donglan County Party Department, Wei Baqun selected Chen Hongtao to study there. During his time at the institute, he joined the Wuzhou Branch of the Chinese Communist Party... More details about Chen Hongtao ++

Huang Daquan (1898–1933), courtesy name Ziheng, was of the Zhuang ethnic group and from Nalie Village, Wuzhuan District. In 1915, after graduating from Donglan Higher Primary School, he taught at a local private school. In early 1916, he quit teaching to join the army, following Wei Baqun to Guizhou to participate in the anti-Yuan Constitutional Protection Army under Xiong Kehui’s command as a soldier. A few months later, he left the army, returned home, and worked as a teacher in Simeng Village.

In September 1921, Huang Daquan joined organizations initiated by Wei Baqun, such as the "Reform Donglan Comrades Association," the "3-3" Revolutionary Alliance, and the "9-9" Revolutionary Alliance. He traveled to areas like Lanmu and Simeng to conduct propaganda, organize peasant associations, and expand... More details about Huang Daquan ++