Martyrs' Monument at Youfangwan

Martyrs' Monument at Youfangwan

The Martyrs' Monument at Youfangwan is a classic site on China’s red tourism routes.

The Martyrs' Monument at Youfangwan is located in Group 7, Xinnong Village, Ganning Town, Wanzhou District, Chongqing.

The monument faces west and is constructed entirely of bluestone, covering an area of 5 square meters, with a constructed area of 0.8 square meters. The main body is rectangular, standing 2.9 meters tall, 0.9 meters wide, and 0.13 meters thick. The base is rectangular, standing 0.22 meters tall, 1.3 meters long, and 0.54 meters wide. The top front side is carved with a five-pointed star, beneath which are the words “Eternal Glory to Revolutionary Martyrs,” signed “Written by Hao Zuhou, Erected in 1987.” The back side describes the killing of Wu Tikuo by warlord Wang Lingji in July 1934, as well as the execution of comrades He Maojin, Hao Yaoqing, Jiang Kaiping, and others at Zhazidong in November 1949, just before the liberation of Chongqing.

He Maojin was from Hekou Township, Wanxian (now Ganning Town, Wanzhou District). He joined the Communist Party of China in 1946. On April 9, 1948, the “April 9th Massacre” occurred in Chengdu when the Nationalist authorities suppressed—. He Maojin was dispatched by the Sichuan University Party organization to rally various universities in Chongqing, sending telegrams to institutions nationwide, forcing the authorities to concede to student demands and promoting the widespread “Anti-Hunger, Anti-Civil War, Anti-Persecution” movement across Sichuan. After graduating from university in July 1948, he was assigned by Ma Shitu, Deputy Secretary of the Sichuan-Kang Special Committee, to form the “East Sichuan Work Team,” establish a Party branch, and return to Wanxian to carry out work. He served as the team leader and deputy secretary of the branch. He helped establish a “Farmers’ Mutual Aid Society” to oppose the Nationalists’ forced conscription, impressment, and tax collection, and promoted a “25% Rent Reduction.” Later, he organized an armed group in Hekou and traveled to Shangfuxing Township where, together with Cui Ganping of the East Sichuan Work Team, he persuaded Cui Ganping’s elder brother, Cui Beichuan (a regiment commander in the Nationalist Luo Guangwen unit), to lead his troops in rebellion. In early 1949, He Maojin was arrested in Hekou, Wanxian, due to betrayal by a traitor. On November 27, he died a martyr at the Zhazidong Prison in Chongqing at the age of 31.

Hao Yaoqing was from Dapuchi in Liangfeng Township, Wanxian (now Ganning Town, Wanzhou District). He joined the Communist Party of China in July 1948 and that same year joined the “East Sichuan Work Team” led by the Sichuan-Kang Special Committee of the CPC. Returning to Wanxian, he taught at Sichuan Provincial Wanxian Middle School, using his teaching position as cover to secretly engage in the Party’s communication and liaison activities. On April 16, 1949, he was arrested due to the betrayal of a traitor and imprisoned with He Maojin and Jiang Kaiping on the upper floor of the library behind the county Confucian temple. Despite repeated torture by the enemy, he glared defiantly and refused to answer any questions. He was later transferred along with He Maojin and Jiang Kaiping to the Zhazidong Prison in Chongqing. On November 27, 1949, he died a martyr during the massacre by the enemy, at the age of 25.

Jiang Kaiping was from Wubridge Township, Wanxian (now Wubridge Subdistrict, Wanzhou District). In 1948, Jiang Kaiping joined the Party’s—organization, the Democratic Youth League, and actively participated in—. In September 1948, he returned from Chengdu to his hometown to engage in peasant—. In October, he joined the Communist Party of China. Due to betrayal by a traitor, on March 23, 1949, Jiang Kaiping was arrested by Nationalist secret agents at the Commercial Press on Huancheng Road in Wanxian. In late April, he was transferred along with He Maojin and Hao Yaoqing to the Zhazidong Prison in Chongqing. In prison, he endured all kinds of torture by the enemy but remained steadfast and unyielding. On November 27, 1949, he died a martyr at the Zhazidong Prison in Chongqing, at the age of 24.

Source: Chongqing Party History Website