Cemetery of the Fallen Soldiers of the New First Army in India and Burma

Cemetery of the Fallen Soldiers of the New First Army in India and Burma

The Cemetery of the Fallen Soldiers of the New First Army in India and Burma is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Memorial Cemetery of the Fallen Soldiers of the New First Army in India and Burma is located on Matougang, Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, covering an area of over 100 acres. It consists of three parts: the cemetery, the Memorial Pavilion, and the Monument. Designed by the renowned architect Yang Yuanxi, construction began on October 5, 1945, and it was completed on September 7, 1947.

The Monument in the cemetery stands atop a platform, with a square base over 4 meters high. Its front has a gate that leads into the tower. Above the gate is inlaid a stone plaque inscribed with "Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the New First Army in India and Burma" by Sun Li-jen.

During the New First Army's stationing in Guangzhou, Sun Li-jen used 3,000 Japanese prisoners of war to build the cemetery for the fallen soldiers on Matougang, Baiyun Mountain. Designed by the renowned architect Yang Yuanxi, construction began on October 5, 1945, and it was completed on September 7, 1947. The original cemetery covered an area of over 100 acres and consisted of three parts: the entrance gate, the Memorial Pavilion, and the Monument. The memorial cemetery for the soldiers who fell in the Burma Campaign features a four-pillared monument integrated with vertical shaft tombs, standing at a total height of 38 meters, plus a large central platform of over 1,000 square meters for the Monument, making its overall volume quite massive.

In 2015, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province