"March 18th" Martyrs' Monument

"March 18th" Martyrs' Monument

"March 18th" Martyrs' Monument is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic red tourism site.

"March 18th" Martyrs' Monument is located in the northern suburbs of Hetian Town, Luhe County. In March 1950, the Third Company of Lufeng County was deployed to Shangsha Township (which was transferred to Jiaxi County in 1964) to assist local farmers in their struggle against local despots. At dawn on March 18th, while returning to Luoxi, they were ambushed at Sima’ao by reactionary armed forces organized by the bandit leaders Zhuang Zhaolou, Zhuang Fengsheng, and the Yellow Flag Gang. During the ensuing day-long battle, the People’s soldiers and political workers—outnumbered and out of ammunition and reinforcements—fought bravely, and 24 of them made the ultimate sacrifice. To ensure that the martyrs’ spirit would live on, the county government erected this monument on March 18th, 1951. The tomb measures 12 meters in length, 8 meters in width, and the monument stands 8.6 meters tall. On the front is inscribed the golden-lettered phrase "The March 18th Martyrs Live Forever," beneath which are engraved the monument text and the names of the martyrs. The tomb chamber houses the remains of the martyrs and is surrounded by protective walls.

Flanking the main gate are stone tablets inscribed with a couplet: "Their hot blood was spilled in the mountain city, and the whole county remembers March 18th; their heroic names shine in the annals of battle, and all people gaze upon the martyrs’ monument."