Tomb of Feng Ru

Tomb of Feng Ru

The Tomb of Feng Ru is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou City.

The Tomb of Feng Ru is located within Huanghuagang Park. Feng Ru, a native of Enping, was China’s first aviator. On September 21, 1909, he successfully developed China’s first airplane, which he test-flew in Oakland, USA, reaching an altitude of 15 feet and covering a distance of 2,640 feet, marking the first page in the history of Chinese aviation.

Unfortunately, on August 25, 1912, he died in an airshow accident. His remains were buried on Huanghua Hill. In front of the tomb is a stone tablet inscribed with “Tomb of Mr. Feng Ru, Pioneer of Chinese Aviation,” and behind it is another stone tablet bearing Sun Yat-sen’s decree to compensate Feng Ru’s family as if he had been a fallen major and to include his deeds in the National History Archives.

Feng Ru (1883–1912) was China’s first aircraft designer. Born in 1883 into a poor farming family in Enping, Guangdong, he moved with his father to the United States at the age of 12 to seek a living. Witnessing America’s advanced technology, he believed that national prosperity depended on industrial advancement and that China’s poverty and backwardness could only be overcome by learning mechanics and developing industry. Thus, he worked as a handyman during the day and studied mechanical engineering at night. After years of dedicated research, he mastered the principles of 36 types of machinery, invented a water pump and a pile driver, and created a high-performance radio transceiver.

19…… Feng Ru — More Details ++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Guangzhou City