Martyrs' Memorial Hall of Yu Zehong

Martyrs' Memorial Hall of Yu Zehong

The Martyrs' Memorial Hall of Yu Zehong is a classic red tourism destination.

The Martyrs' Memorial Hall of Yu Zehong is located within the Changning County Martyrs' Cemetery, situated on a small hill by Bijixi River in Changning County’s urban area, adjacent to the Changning Bamboo Sea Square.

Yu Zehong (1903–1935), a native of Changning County, joined the Communist Youth League in 1922 through the introduction of Yun Daiying. He became a member of the Communist Party of China in 1925. From 1927 to 1930, Yu Zehong served in Wuhan as the Propaganda Minister of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPC, among other roles. In Shanghai, he worked as Secretary to the Organization Department and Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. In Tianjin, he successively served as Propaganda Minister for both the CPC Northern Bureau and the Shunzhi Provincial Committee. In 1931, he traveled from Shanghai to Jiangxi to assist Deng Xiaoping. Later, he participated in the Long March with the Central Red Army. In February 1935, while on the Long March in Zhaxi, Yunnan, Yu Zehong became the Propaganda Minister of the CPC Southern Sichuan Special Committee (later renamed the CPC Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Border Region Special Committee); at the same time, he served as Political Director of the “Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Southern Sichuan Guerrilla Column” (later renamed the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Border Region Guerrilla Column). In July 1935, he was appointed Secretary of the CPC Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Border Region Special Committee and Political Commissar of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Border Region Guerrilla Column. On the night of March 14, 1935, Yu Zehong led his troops to his hometown to mobilize relatives and rally the masses, issuing their manifesto. In early December, due to successive military setbacks, Yu Zehong led his troops in a strategic retreat. He was martyred at 1 a.m. on December 15 on Wanchangpo in Jiang’an County. His remains were buried on the eastern hillside of Jiang’an County.

The Martyrs' Memorial Hall of Yu Zehong was initially built in August 1958. It underwent partial renovations and improvements afterward, and was finally completed in 1983. Zhang Aiping inscribed the name of the hall during his inspection visit to Changning in May 1982. The memorial hall displays memoirs by figures such as Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yun, and Song Renqiong, as well as precious cultural relic photos including proclamations, currency, badges, slogans, and more left behind by Yu Zehong during his campaigns. There are also many photos of Yu Zehong’s articles and the sites of his activities.

In 1987, the Yu Zehong Memorial Hall was designated as a provincial-level protected unit for martyrs' commemorative architecture. In 1995, it was recognized as a provincial-level patriotic education base by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.