Hainan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument

Hainan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument

The Hainan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument is a classic site on China's red tourism routes.

The Hainan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument is a patriotic education base and a revolutionary tradition education base for youths in both Hainan Province and Haikou City. It is located within Haikou People’s Park at No. 2 Gongyuan Road, Haikou City, and is managed by the Haikou Civil Affairs Bureau.

The Hainan Revolutionary Martyrs Monument was built in April 1954 to honor the over 20,000 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Qiongya revolutionary struggle and the brave sea-crossing operations. In 2003, local government funds were allocated for its renovation. The monument covers an area of 0.8 mu with a building area of 36 square meters. It is constructed from large granite blocks and is surrounded by stone railings. The structure is a tetrahedron with a total height of 14.5 meters, including an 11-meter-tall main body. The front of the monument bears the inscription “Eternal Glory to the Revolutionary Martyrs.” The front of the base and the back of the main body are inscribed with a message from Comrade Zhu De: “To those comrades who persistently fought in the Qiongdao revolution and bravely crossed the sea—You are the finest sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. Your heroic deeds played an indelible role in the liberation of Qiongdao and all of China. The merits of the martyrs will live forever!” The surroundings of the monument are shaded by lush trees and upright pines and cypresses, adding a solemn and respectful atmosphere to this revolutionary landmark.

In the second half of 1949, over 100,000 Nationalist troops retreated to Qiongdao (Hainan Island) from various parts of mainland China and set up a three-dimensional defense system covering land, sea, and air, attempting to prevent the People’s Liberation Army from liberating Hainan. With the support of the Qiongya Column, over 100,000 soldiers from the 40th and 43rd Armies of the Fourth Field Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, along with artillery and engineering units, followed the instructions of the Central Military Commission and Chairman Mao Zedong. They quickly formed a sea-crossing combat corps and began pre-battle preparations. Starting on March 5, 1950, the corps organized two reinforced battalions and two reinforced regiments in two phases and four successful covert crossings, strengthening the support forces of the Qiongya Column. On April 16, the main forces of the corps were divided into two echelons and crossed the Qiongzhou Strait in wooden sailboats. With strong support from the Qiongya Column and the advance landing troops, they broke through enemy lines west of Haikou to Lin’gao Cape, landed successfully, advanced inland, and engaged in decisive battles against the enemy in Huangzhu and Meiting, Chengmai, annihilating the main enemy forces. On April 23, Haikou was liberated. Subsequently, the landed forces and the Qiongya Column pursued the fleeing enemies along eastern, central, and western routes. On May 1, the entire island was declared liberated.

This campaign eliminated over 33,000 enemy troops, while our army also paid a heavy price, with over 4,500 casualties. It marked the first instance in world revolutionary war history where wooden boats defeated warships, writing a glorious page in the history of China’s revolutionary struggle.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China