Xunhua Martyrs' Cemetery

Xunhua Martyrs' Cemetery

The Xunhua Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County Martyrs' Cemetery is located in Gacuo Village, east of Xunhua County. It was relocated to its current site in October 2009. Originally built in August 1955 on Tianchi North Road in Xunhua County, it was expanded in October 2010 and merged with the Second Army Memorial Hall.

The cemetery covers an area of 5,500 square meters, including a building area of 1,079.3 square meters, a tomb area of 542.3 square meters, and a plaza of 1,709 square meters. It features a martyrs' exhibition hall, a Second Army Memorial Hall exhibition area, and reception rooms, as well as monuments such as the Martyrs' Memorial Tower, the Second Army Memorial Tower, and the "Hero Rescues Hero" sculpture commemorating the Second Army’s daring crossing of the Yellow River. Facilities such as flower beds, plaza lighting, running water, and drainage systems have also been installed.

The cemetery is the final resting place of 98 martyrs, including officers and soldiers of the 1st Company, 1st Regiment, 1st Division of the People's Liberation Army's 1st Army, who heroically sacrificed their lives during the suppression of a rebellion in Zhajia Gully, Jiezi Town, Xunhua County, on December 13, 1949, along with local officials. It also houses the remains of 15 martyrs who died quelling an armed rebellion in Gangcha Township, Wendu, and other areas of Xunhua County in April 1958. Additionally, three martyrs who died after 1958 are buried here. There are now a total of 116 martyr tombs, all of which are Western-style with integrated headstones.

In the early days of Qinghai’s liberation on December 13, 1949, remnants of the Kuomintang and bandit forces colluded with local landlords and despots to stage a rebellion in Zhajia Gully, Jiezi. Their goal was to overthrow the newly established people’s government. Under the leadership of Deputy Company Commander Song Cheng, Kang Fenglin, First Secretary of the Xunhua County First District Committee, and Li Laiquan, District Chief, officers and soldiers of the 1st Company, 1st Regiment, 1st Division of the 1st Army of the People's Liberation Army, along with local officials, fought bravely overnight to defend the newborn people’s government. They ultimately suppressed the rebellion, accomplished their glorious mission entrusted by the people, and safeguarded the fruits of the revolution. However, in the battle, 98 brave souls, including Deputy Company Commander Song Cheng, Secretary Kang Fenglin, and District Chief Li Laiquan, sacrificed their lives.

On April 18, 1958, hidden anti-Communist elements in Gangcha and Wendu, Xunhua County, colluded with local reactionary officers, landlords, and other hostile forces in an attempt to subvert the people’s government and launched an armed rebellion. By April 23, the rebels had approached the county seat. In response, numerous government officials and people of all ethnic groups in Xunhua organized militias and, relying on the city walls, fought back fiercely against the rebels. After holding their ground for two days and one night, they joined forces with the 163rd Regiment of the 55th Division of the 19th Army of the People's Liberation Army on April 25 to eliminate the enemy and suppress the rebellion. Fifteen government officials and militiamen were killed in the battle.

On August 26, 1949, after the People’s Liberation Army captured Lanzhou, the 2nd Army of the 1st Corps, under the command of Corps Commander and Political Commissar Wang Zhen, was ordered to march into Qinghai. They crossed the 3,800-meter-high Daliujia Mountain, defeated die-hard forces of Ma Bufang and Han Qigong, and liberated Xunhua on August 27, 1949. With the assistance of people from all ethnic groups in Xunhua County, the 2nd Army crossed the Yellow River northward at locations such as Gushiqun Gorge, Yimou, and Caotanba within Xunhua territory, pursued the remaining enemy forces, and advanced toward Xining. During the battle to cross the Yellow River, 15 officers and soldiers, including Company Commander Zhao Hongsheng of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Regiment, 5th Division of the 2nd Army, sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the people of all ethnicities in Qinghai.

In March 1989, the People’s Government of Qinghai Province built the Second Army Memorial Hall of the 1st Corps of the People's Liberation Army on the north bank of the Yellow River Bridge in Yimou, Jishi Town, Xunhua County, at one of the historic sites where the 2nd Army crossed the Yellow River. In October 2010, due to national key construction needs, the memorial hall was relocated to Gacuo Village, east of Xunhua County, and merged with the Xunhua County Martyrs' Cemetery.

Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China