"Never Forget This Day" Monument to the Shamian Massacre

"Never Forget This Day" Monument to the Shamian Massacre

The "Never Forget This Day" Monument to the Shamian Massacre is a Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism site, and a patriotic education base.

Shamian is located at the junction of Yanjiang Road and Liuer San Road, east of Shamian Island.

Monument to the Martyrs of the Shamian Massacre

The Shamian Massacre is one of China's major revolutionary historical events. In May 1925, Britain and Japan suppressed workers in Shanghai, creating the shocking May Thirtieth Incident. Following the May Thirtieth Incident, the Guangdong District Committee of the Communist Party of China and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions dispatched Deng Zhongxia, Yang Yin, Su Zhaozheng, Lin Weimin, Li Qihan, and others to unions and worker groups in the Hong Kong and Shamian concession areas of Guangzhou to carry out preparatory work for a...

Monument to the Martyrs of the Shamian Massacre

On June 19, 1925, sailors, tram workers, and print workers in Hong Kong went on strike first, followed by workers in other industries, with the number of strikers reaching 250,000. The workers declared their support for the 17 demands put forward by the Shanghai General Labour Union regarding the May Thirtieth Incident and, in response to the discriminatory policies against Chinese people implemented by British imperialism in Hong Kong, put forward six demands: "political freedom, equality before the law, universal suffrage, labor legislation, rent reduction, and freedom of residence." Over 100,000 workers, led by Su Zhaozheng and others, returned to Guangzhou, and workers from British, American, and Japanese firms in Guangzhou as well as those in the Shamian concession also joined the strike.

On June 23, more than 100,000 workers, merchants, and students held a demonstration at Dongjiao Field, demanding the overthrow of imperialism and the abolition of unequal treaties. After the rally, they marched to Shamian, across from the protest site. At 3 p.m., as the procession passed the western entrance of Shamian Bridge, they were suddenly fired upon by machine guns from British soldiers stationed in the Shamian concession, while British warships anchored in Bai'etan simultaneously shelled the north bank. The procession, completely unprepared, scattered in panic; over 50 were killed on the spot, more than 170 were seriously injured, and countless others sustained minor injuries, marking the horrifying "Shamian Massacre."

After the massacre, mass organizations, the Central Executive Committee, and the Guangdong Provincial Government all condemned the crimes of the British, French, and other imperialists. The Guangdong Bureau of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the British and French consuls, presenting five stern demands. On July 11, 100,000 people in Guangzhou held a public memorial for the Shamian martyrs. That year, a stone tablet inscribed with "Never Forget This Day" was erected, and in 1950 it was rebuilt as the "Monument to the Martyrs of the Shamian Massacre." This monument is now a Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Address: East side of Shamian, at the junction of Yanjiang West Road and Liuer San Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, next to Renmin Bridge and beside Xidi Wharf.

Type: Monument

Recommended visiting time: 5–15 minutes

Opening hours: Open all day

Ticket information: Free admission

Further reading:

· One of the first batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units