Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery

Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery

The Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

The Heyuan Ruan Xiaoxian Martyrs' Cemetery is situated on the west side of Zhongshan Square on Gongyuan Road in the urban area. First built in 1958 by the former Heyuan County People’s Government to commemorate revolutionary martyrs such as Ruan Xiaoxian, it was originally called “Xiaoxian Martyrs' Cemetery.” In June 1990, the Yuanzhou District Government established the “Xiaoxian Cemetery Management Office” as a sub-department-level public institution with a staff quota of six. The cemetery originally covered an area of 13,000 square meters and was later expanded twice, now covering approximately 28,000 square meters. The site includes the Ruan Xiaoxian Martyrs’ Memorial Pavilion, the Revolutionary Martyrs Monument, and a memorial tomb, with inscriptions recording the names of 377 revolutionary martyrs from Heyuan. In 1987, the former Heyuan County Government placed a white marble statue of Ruan Xiaoxian in the cemetery. In October 1989, the Xiaoxian Martyrs' Cemetery was listed by the provincial government as one of the first key protected provincial revolutionary martyrs’ memorial buildings. In May 1995, it was designated as a patriotic education base by the Heyuan Municipal Government, and in May 2000, it was named a provincial-level patriotic education base by the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department. In December 2002, it was renamed Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery with approval from the municipal government. In March 2009, it was approved by the State Council as a national key revolutionary martyrs’ memorial building protection unit, named Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery, and in November of the same year, it was upgraded to a sub-section-level public institution with approval from relevant departments.

After the establishment of a dedicated management body, with support from provincial, municipal, and district leaders and departments, approximately 2 million yuan was invested to repair the infrastructure within the cemetery. Through strengthened management and greening improvements, the cemetery’s environment has significantly improved, gradually becoming a public space that combines education and leisure, attracting many citizens to visit, relax, and enjoy the park. According to statistics, the annual number of visitors reached 250,000, fully demonstrating the role of the cemetery as a patriotic education base. During holidays such as Qingming Festival and July 1st, numerous organizations and groups come to pay tribute and remember the martyrs, engaging in patriotic education activities. It has partnered as a “patriotic education base co-construction unit” with institutions such as Heyuan Vocational College, Heyuan No. 1 Primary School, Heyuan No. 2 Primary School, and the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Fire Brigade, achieving significant social benefits.

To further strengthen the development of the martyrs' cemetery as a patriotic education base, promote revolutionary traditions, and better fulfill its educational role, in 2005, the municipal government invested approximately 5 million yuan to build the Heyuan Revolutionary History and Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall. The two-story hall covers a land area of about 700 square meters and a construction area of 1,435.5 square meters. The museum displays materials on well-known martyrs in Heyuan and more than 400 revolutionary artifacts, with exhibits arranged in a top-down visiting sequence.

The second floor of the memorial hall is the first exhibition hall, mainly showcasing the history of the Heyuan people’s revolutionary struggles during the First and Second Revolutionary Civil Wars and the Anti-Japanese War. The mezzanine on the first floor is the second exhibition hall, displaying stories of some Heyuan heroes from the New Democratic Revolution to the period of socialist construction. The main hall on the first floor is the third exhibition hall, highlighting the history of the Heyuan people’s revolutionary struggles during the Liberation War, with a focus on reflecting the armed struggle of the Second Detachment of the East River Column under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. A list of Heyuan martyrs, inscribed with the names of 2,455 heroes, is displayed in the main hall.

Meanwhile, the Yuanzhou District Government invested around 2 million yuan to renovate the cemetery, including projects such as the memorial square, public parking lot, lotus and koi pond, municipal facilities, and the expansion of the main road. These renovations were completed as scheduled by the end of March 2006 and fully opened to the public during the Qingming Festival in the same year. In 2009, with support from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Yuanzhou District People’s Government, 10.6 million yuan was invested for large-scale restoration of the memorial facilities (including 8.2 million yuan from the Yuanzhou District Government and 2.4 million yuan from the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Civil Affairs). Key preservation, maintenance, and renovation works were carried out on the east and west gates of the martyrs' cemetery, the martyrs’ monument, the martyrs’ tombs, the Ruan Xiaoxian Memorial Pavilion, and the memorial square. The cemetery area was also expanded by over 1,000 square meters, reaching a total of 30,000 square meters.

Today, the Heyuan Martyrs' Cemetery has become a place for local residents to honor martyrs, engage in patriotic education, and enjoy leisure and exercise. (Source: Publicity Department of the Heyuan Municipal Committee of the CPC)

Ruan Xiaoxian (1897–1935), originally named Xichao, courtesy name Jianbei, literary name Ruizong, also known as Chaoxi, was from Heyuan County, Guangdong Province. As a child, he studied in his hometown and in the autumn of the seventh year of the Republic of China (1918), he entered the Mechanical Department of the First Provincial Advanced Industrial School of Guangdong. During his school years, he received early exposure to Marxism, extensively read progressive publications such as New Youth, actively responded to the May Fourth Movement in Beijing, and organized the Guangzhou Secondary and Higher Schools Student Federation with other progressive students such as Zhou Qijian, serving as an executive committee member and leading student protests in the Guangzhou area.

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Shangcheng Subdistrict: The Shangcheng Subdistrict Office was established in March 1997 when the former Yuancheng Town was divided into subdistricts. Located in the old city area, it borders the Dongjiang River to the east, Yuan Nan Town to the south, Xinjiang Subdistrict Office to the west, and Xinfengjiang River to the north. The office is located at No. 74 Huancheng East Road and currently serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Yuanzhou District, covering a total area of 3.5 square kilometers with a registered population of 39,292 and 7,590 households. It governs six community neighborhood committees: Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Xiajiao, Gongyuan, Xinxing, and Nanhu. The office includes internal departments such as the Party and Government Office, Subdistrict Affairs Office, Economic Development Office, Family Planning Office, and Social Affairs Office... Shangcheng Subdistrict detailed information++