Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery

Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery

The Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination.

The Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery is located south of the 11th Company (Tasite Village) of the 161st Regiment, about 500 meters northeast of the "Little Poplar" Sentry Post. Due to its previously small construction area, outdated appearance, unreasonable layout structure, limited green space, uninspired architectural design, and poor artistic quality of the tombstones, the site was unable to properly reflect the patriotism and spirit of the martyrs and the military reclamation pioneers who farmed and defended the border to safeguard China’s territorial integrity. To strengthen traditional education on reclamation and border defense as well as patriotic education, promote the spirit of patriotism, and with the approval of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) Civil Affairs Bureau and Development and Reform Commission, a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery was carried out. The site was transformed into a premium socialist military reclamation cultural project integrating commemoration, education, promotion, and tourism. It has become a distinctive patriotic education base rich in military reclamation heritage, as well as a green, ecological, serene, and harmonious cemetery for military reclamation martyrs.

I. Introduction to Martyr Sun Longzhen

In May 1962, under the orders of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and the XPCC Party Committee, nearly 3,000 military reclamation soldiers braved the lingering aftermath of the "Yi-Ta Incident" and traveled from the Second Division of the XPCC to Yumin County in the Tacheng region to carry out the "three substitutions" tasks—substitute farming, substitute herding, and substitute management. "Holding high the banner, dedicating our patriotic hearts; journeying to the frontier, forging the XPCC spirit." This marked the beginning of the Ninth Division’s history of reclamation and border defense.

On June 10, 1969, when Soviet troops invaded China’s territory and launched armed provocations, kidnapping herders, 29-year-old Sun Longzhen from the 12th Company sacrificed her youth, blood, and life to defend the dignity of the motherland, composing a heroic anthem of safeguarding national soil.

After Sun Longzhen’s sacrifice, her heroic deeds were reported in numerous provincial and national publications, newspapers, and television broadcasts. On June 14 of the same year, the XPCC Party Committee posthumously recognized Comrade Sun Longzhen as a member of the Communist Party of China. On August 25, the Revolutionary Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region awarded her the title of "Revolutionary Martyr," and on September 15, the Revolutionary Committee issued the "Decision to Learn from Comrade Sun Longzhen." In 1970, to commemorate Martyr Sun Longzhen, the Party Committee of the Ninth Agricultural Division organized the creation of the opera "Ode to Sun Longzhen," which was performed throughout the division. Its theme song, "I Love My Motherland, I Love My Frontier," is still sung today.

In 1972, the Yumin County Civil Affairs Bureau erected the "Sun Longzhen Martyrs' Monument" on the southern slope of the First Pastoral Team's Mountain. On September 24, 1983, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued the hero the "Revolutionary Martyr Certificate." On August 1, 1988, the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region re-inscribed the text on the "Sun Longzhen Martyrs' Monument."

One hero, one monument; one hero, one legendary tale of guarding the nation’s borders.

Decades of border defense with ups and downs, decades of reclamation with unity and resolve. The people of the Ninth Division have lived up to the trust of the Party and the people, vigorously promoting the spirit of Longzhen. On the vast western border, they have cultivated political fields and herded political flocks, building an "everlasting, living barrier of national land," and embodying the spirit of Longzhen—"love for military reclamation, remembering the mission, rooting in the frontier, dedicating oneself to national defense"—through concrete actions.

II. Construction of the Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery

To inherit the martyrs’ legacy and promote the spirit of Longzhen, from 1999 to 2004, the 161st Regiment, with strong support from civil affairs departments at the corps, division, and regiment levels, rebuilt the martyrs’ tombs and rewrote the inscriptions. Cement flooring and fencing were installed around the site. Additionally, in the company where Comrade Sun Longzhen once served, a new "Sun Longzhen Reclamation and Border Defense Exhibition Hall" integrating learning, training, and education was established, collecting nearly 200 items (and pieces) of artifacts, photos, and written materials. In 2004, it was designated by the XPCC Party Committee as one of the first batch of patriotic education bases of the XPCC. In 2009, according to Document No. 36 (2009) issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the "Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery" was listed as a national protected unit for martyrs’ memorial buildings.

In 2009, the National Ministry of Civil Affairs approved the construction of the Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery project. Based on Document No. 220 [2009] from the Division Development and Reform Commission titled "Notice on Issuing the Investment Plan for the Construction Project of the Sun Longzhen Martyrs' Cemetery of the 161st Regiment" and Document No. 332 [2009] from the Division Finance and Construction Department titled "Notice on Issuing the 2009 Budget for Capital Expenditure of Key Martyrs’ Memorial Facilities," the martyrs’ cemetery is a crucial vehicle for passing on the martyrs’ spirit and a vital platform for inspiring patriotic fervor among workers and the public. The Party committees of the division and regiment, along with civil affairs departments at all levels, placed great emphasis on the cemetery’s construction, treating it as a cultural and political project. They commissioned the Xinjiang Construction Planning and Design Research Institute to complete the project’s planning and design. With an investment of over 2.1 million yuan, the site was expanded at its original location to cover 2,367 square meters. The expansion included white marble railings, tombstones, a military reclamation relief wall, as well as landscaping, roads, and other ancillary facilities. The project passed final acceptance in May 2011. The cemetery was listed by the State Council as a "National Key Protected Unit for Martyrs’ Memorial Buildings."

The left side of the relief wall is engraved with the Spirit of Longzhen: Love for military reclamation, rooting in the frontier, remembering the mission, dedicating oneself to national defense.

The right side of the relief is engraved with a tribute to Martyr Sun Longzhen: A monument stands tall under the sky, blood forged into the spirits of heroes. Yesterday, not an inch of land was yielded; today, flowers bloom everywhere. The children of the XPCC are worthy of song, time writes their achievements, ten thousand miles of border are secured, together painting a prosperous scene.

Front inscription on the tombstone: Tomb of Martyr Sun Longzhen

Back inscription on the tombstone: Introduction to Martyr Sun Longzhen

Tombstone height: 1.69 meters (symbolizing the year 1969), thickness: 0.3 meters

Tombstone base: Length: 2.9 meters (symbolizing Martyr Sun Longzhen’s age of 29 at passing), height: 0.4 meters, thickness: 0.55 meters

III. Highlighting Patriotic Themes and Leveraging Educational Impact

The Party committees of the corps and division have designated the Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs’ Memorial Facilities as both a patriotic education base and an integrity education base. They guide and inspire cadres and workers to take Martyr Sun Longzhen as a role model, always remembering the historical mission of "reclamation and border defense," effectively conducting patriotic and traditional reclamation and border defense education, and vigorously fostering the spirit of the XPCC and national spirit.

In recent years, to actively develop "red resources" and maximize the educational role of martyrs’ cemeteries and exhibition halls, while expanding educational methods, activities such as adult swearing-in ceremonies, Young Pioneers, Communist Youth League, and Party admission oaths have been organized. During major holidays such as Qingming Festival, "July 1," "August 1," and "October 1," Party and government organizations at all levels visit the Sun Longzhen Martyrs’ Cemetery to hold public memorial ceremonies, honoring revolutionary achievements, promoting the martyrs’ spirit, cultivating citizens’ patriotism, collectivism, and socialist moral values, inheriting the spirit and bloodline of the Chinese nation, nurturing and practicing core socialist values, strengthening national cohesion, and inspiring the powerful spiritual drive needed to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation—fully expressing the people’s reverence for the martyrs.

According to incomplete statistics: Since the operation of the martyrs’ cemetery and exhibition hall, there have been over 100 public memorial events held at the Sun Longzhen Martyrs’ Cemetery annually, educating over 8,000 cadres and Party members at all levels, more than 12,000 individuals from all walks of life, and attracting over 30,000 visitors from various sectors to tour and study at the martyrs’ exhibition hall.

IV. Protective Measures for the Sun Longzhen Military Reclamation Martyrs' Cemetery

(1) Orderly Management and Effective Protection. Proper protection and management of the martyrs’ cemetery and the reclamation and border defense exhibition hall is the greatest tribute to the martyrs. The significance of managing and protecting these sites lies not only in honoring the martyrs and educating the public but also in maintaining frontier stability and fostering social harmony. The management and protection of the martyrs’ cemetery is a highly political and policy-sensitive task. Leaders of the division and regiment treat the management and protection of the martyrs’ cemetery and exhibition hall as a top priority in welfare work and a duty they must fulfill. They have formulated practical management methods and measures, strictly adhering to relevant policies and regulations to manage and protect the cemetery and exhibition hall buildings in accordance with the law. Management and protection standards are continuously improved, with regular arrangements and deployments made. Emergency safety plans are established, and departments such as the Armed Forces Department, Safety Committee, Police Station, and Labor Union are periodically organized to inspect fire safety and other security facilities. Areas with potential hazards are required to rectify within a set timeframe.

(2) Leveraging the Role of the Sun Longzhen Militia Squad. For over 40 years since the martyrdom of Martyr Sun Longzhen, the militia squad named after her has inherited her legacy, stationed year-round on the frontline of the border, battling harsh natural conditions, and balancing production with border defense. They have faithfully fulfilled the sacred mission of reclamation and border defense, making outstanding contributions to maintaining frontier stability and development, earning multiple honors and commendations. They are hailed as the "Hua Mulan," "Sun Longzhen," and "tough roses" of the new era’s frontlines. Militia squad members of the Sun Longzhen Squad voluntarily take on the tasks of protecting and providing guided tours of the martyrs’ cemetery. They have created a series of warning signs on civility, environmental protection, and public property care, regularly organizing squad members to clean the cemetery, water plants, and provide a humanized environment for visitors paying respects and commemorating.

In the new historical era, the people of the Ninth Division uphold the great banner of stability and border defense, guided by the "Spirit of Longzhen," properly handling the "three major relationships," and fulfilling the roles of "stabilizer, melting pot, and demonstration zone." Riding the tide of reform and opening up, they compose new chapters of stability and border defense as well as "Three Modernizations" (industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization) construction with their youth, wisdom, and dedication.

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

Sun Longzhen (1940-1969)

Sun Longzhen was an outstanding representative of the millions of military settlers in the Production and Construction Corps. Born in 1940 in Taixian County, Jiangsu Province, she volunteered to support border development and moved to Xinjiang in 1959. In 1962, she signed up for the "Three Generations" work team and came to Yumin County. On the evening of June 10, 1969, Soviet troops provoked an incident, crossed the Burqin River, and abducted Zhang Chengshan, a staff member who was herding livestock, from Triangle Field in the 11th Company under our control. When the news reached the company, despite being six months pregnant, Sun Longzhen grabbed a shovel and rushed toward Triangle Field with her comrades to rescue her fellow worker. Along the way, the Soviet troops suddenly... More details about Sun Longzhen ++