Chongqing Geleshan Martyrs' Cemetery

Chongqing Geleshan Martyrs' Cemetery

Chongqing Geleshan Martyrs' Cemetery is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relics protection unit in China, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Chongqing Geleshan Martyrs' Cemetery, built on the former site of the "Sino-American Cooperative Organization" concentration camp, is located at the foot of Geleshan Mountain in the northwestern suburbs of Chongqing. On November 27, 1949, just before the liberation of Chongqing, the - military secret service carried out an extremely brutal massacre here, where over 300 revolutionaries were tragically shot and died as martyrs.

Upon entering the main gate of the cemetery, the first thing you see is the former parade ground of the "Sino-American Cooperative Organization." What was once a parade ground is now a beautiful green belt, with the large relief sculpture "Immortality" situated on the eastern side. The fearless spirit of the revolutionary martyrs in the face of the enemy will forever be admired by the people: “The great cause on Red Crag goes down in history; the martyrs’ spirit inspires future generations. United, we strive to build a modernized China, reviving the glory of the nation to honor their souls!” Every visitor here will resonate with such sentiments.

To the north of the relief is the main exhibition hall, covering an area of 1,159 square meters. The basic exhibition is the "Sino-American Cooperative Organization" Concentration Camp Historical Exhibition, which uses 490 photographs, 108 physical artifacts, and a diorama of the November 27th massacre to thoroughly reveal the dark and brutal inside story of the - military secret service concentration camp and the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperation Organization. It vividly and in detail introduces the heroic and unyielding struggles of revolutionary martyrs such as Yang Hucheng, Ye Ting, Jiang Zhuyun, Luo Shiwen, and Che Yaoxian, who fought continuously for the establishment of New China.

Many people came to know a lovable and brave little revolutionary fighter—Little Radish Head (real name Song Zhenzhong)—from the movie "Eternal Life in the Flames." Under the extremely harsh conditions in prison, he diligently studied science and culture. His yellow clay chalk and exercise books made from coarse paper prompt countless visitors to pause and reflect: how fortunate today’s children are, able to study in bright and spacious classrooms. And all of this has been bought with the blood and lives of countless revolutionary martyrs—how can we not cherish our happy lives today? At that time, Little Radish Head and his parents, Xu Linxia and her husband, General Huang Xiansheng, Chen Ran, and other revolutionary martyrs were imprisoned in the Bai Mansion Prison. The martyrs carried out indomitable struggles in prison, leaving behind many moving and heroic stories. The verse carved by martyr Zhou Conghua before his execution on the prison wall—"Failure nurtures the earth, success benefits the living"—showed his unwavering belief in the revolutionary cause and absolute loyalty to the Party, even under inhumane torture.

Behind the Bai Mansion is Songlinpo, where the famous anti-Japanese general Yang Hucheng met his tragic end. As visitors continue on, they can see the infamous "Zhazidong" prison. This is where revolutionaries arrested during the June 1st, 1947 mass arrests, the Minzhu Revolution Armed Uprising, the 1948 "Advance Newspaper" incident, and the armed uprisings in Eastern and Western Sichuan—including Jiang Zhuyun (Sister Jiang), He Xuesong, Hu Qifen, and Cai Mengwei—were held, with a maximum of over 300 prisoners at one time. The air in the prison was foul, and the food was poor. The revolutionary martyrs, subjected to brutal torture and inhumane living conditions, put up a tenacious resistance. Large-scale collective struggles included prison memorial services, Spring Festival celebrations, and prison study groups, which greatly boosted the morale of the revolutionaries and became miracles in prison history. On November 27, 1949, just before the liberation of Chongqing, the deranged - military secret service agents carried out a frenzied massacre against the revolutionaries who were awaiting the dawn. The martyrs composed the most solemn and tragic revolutionary anthem with their blood.

The Red Crag martyrs—this is a heroic title with epic characteristics of the era. Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, driven by the great aspiration to save the nation and its people, and for a common revolutionary goal, they demonstrated the noble spirit of revolutionaries who would rather die than surrender and faced death fearlessly under the enemy’s frenzied butcher knives. Their heroic demeanor and calm acceptance of martyrdom set an eternal example for Party members and the people. Their blood heralded the birth of New China, and the heroic epics they wrote with their precious lives will forever be recorded in the annals of China’s revolution. Their spirit of devotion to the revolutionary cause will forever inspire and drive us forward.