The Guangzhou Memorial Cemetery for the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai Against Japanese Aggression

The Guangzhou Memorial Cemetery for the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai Against Japanese Aggression

The Guangzhou Memorial Cemetery for the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai Against Japanese Aggression is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a cultural heritage site protected at the Guangdong provincial level, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The cemetery is located at No. 113 Shuiyin Road, Guangzhou, on the north side of Xianlie Road, covering a total area of 62,000 square meters. It was built in 1933 with donations from overseas Chinese to commemorate the soldiers of the 19th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army who died in the January 28th Incident of the Battle of Shanghai in 1932. The entire cemetery features grand architectural scale, rigorous layout, solemn and elegant design, and a north-south oriented central axis formed by the tomb pathway. The main structures are built with granite and showcase an ancient Roman architectural style.

The Guangzhou Cemetery for the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai

As a testament to the people's struggle in modern Chinese history, the cemetery is a national key martyrs' memorial site, a patriotic education base at the national, provincial, and municipal levels, as well as a national key cultural relics protection unit. It also serves as an educational platform for patriotism among students and domestic tourists.

The main structures of the cemetery include: the Arch of Triumph, the Soldiers’ Tomb, the Anti-Japanese Pavilion, the Monument to the Martyrs’ Names, the Martyrs Memorial Hall, the Soldiers’ Tomb, the Generals’ Tomb, and the Martyrs Monument, along with other commemorative buildings, as well as landscapes such as the relief wall and the Aviation Memorial.

The cemetery features a Roman-style triumphal arch built with granite. The archway was constructed in 1932 at the intersection of Shaha Ding, Xianlie Road, and Shuiyin Road. It stands 13.4 meters high, 11 meters wide, and covers an area of 40.7 square meters. The front of the arch is inscribed with the words “Cemetery for the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Anti-Japanese Battle,” written by Lin Sen, then Chairman of the National Government. The back is inscribed with “Loyal Hearts and Red Blood,” written by Song Ziwen, then Head of the Executive Yuan of the National Government.

In 1931, Japanese imperialism instigated the September 18th Incident, occupying China’s three northeastern provinces. Then, on January 28, 1932, the Japanese invaders brazenly attacked Shanghai’s Zhabei District. At that time, patriotic generals stationed in the Shanghai-Suzhou area—Chiang Guangnai, Commander-in-Chief of the 19th Route Army, and Cai Tingkai, the Army Commander—led their troops in a fierce battle against the enemy, triggering the world-shocking “Battle of Shanghai.” Later, the Fifth Army under General Zhang Zizhong also joined the fight, delivering a heavy blow to the Japanese forces. The soldiers of the 19th Route Army bravely resisted the invasion, fighting hard for 33 days and engaging in over 100 intense battles, forcing the Japanese to change commanders three times and suffer more than 10,000 casualties. However, due to being outnumbered, the 19th Route Army eventually retreated to the second line of defense. On May 5, the “Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement” was signed, bringing the tragic and intense Battle of Shanghai to an end.

The Battle of Shanghai fought by the 19th Route Army was a great feat in the Chinese nation’s resistance against Japanese invaders. It delayed Japan’s attempt to occupy China, ignited the morale of the entire population to defend the nation, initiated a new phase of localized Chinese military resistance, and holds very significant importance in the history of China’s War of Resistance.

To commemorate the martyrs who died in battle and honor the heroic deeds of the 19th Route Army in defending the nation, this martyrs' cemetery was established.

The relief wall is located to the west of the cemetery and to the north of the Soldiers’ Tomb. It consists of the relief wall and the relief wall square, covering an area of 1,250 square meters. Entirely made of granite, it was completed on New Year’s Day 1998. This set of reliefs depicts several battle scenes including the street fighting in Zhabei, the struggle for positions, the suicide squads, the big sword squads, positional warfare, and support for the frontlines. It also highlights the figures of two key leaders in the resistance, Commander Chiang Guangnai and Army Commander Cai Tingkai. The relief wall is 46 meters long and 4.6 meters high. Its fragmented walls symbolize the shattered landscape of the nation at the time, while the overall red wall represents the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation.

The Soldiers’ Tomb was built in 1932 and is located on the west side of the cemetery. Its full name is “The Tomb of the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai.” The tomb area consists of a main memorial stele and the graves, covering an area of 1,187 square meters. The burial ground consists of 190 tombs arranged in sequence, with symbolic cement coffins slightly smaller than those in the Soldiers’ Tomb. The main memorial stele is situated on the west side, inscribed with the words “The Tomb of the Soldiers of the 19th Route Army Who Died in the Battle of Shanghai,” written by Li Jishen.

On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: No. 113 Shuiyin Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Type: Cemetery/Memorial Monument/Memorial Hall

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 020-87047408

Official website: http://www.gz19.net/index1.php

Opening hours: The cemetery is open from 6:30–21:30; the memorial hall inside the cemetery is open from 8:30–11:30 and 13:30–16:30.

Ticket information: Free admission.

Yongfu Zhengjie Community: The neighborhood committee of Yongfu Zhengjie Community is located southwest of Shahe Subdistrict, Tianhe District. It borders Shuiyin Road and the Siheng Subdistrict Committee to the east, Xiangyunlou Hotel at No. 22 Xiliu Lane, Shuiyin Straight Street to the south, the Inner Ring Road and the Zoo section to the west, and Xianlie East Road, as well as the Siheng Subdistrict and Xin Yi Jie Subdistrict Committees to the north. The community covers an area of approximately 0.4 square kilometers. The neighborhood committee office is located at No. 87-1 Shuiyin Yiheng Road, with six full-time staff members. There are 1,287 registered households, 3,677 permanent residents, 1,044 rental households, and 3,189 temporary residents, spread across 275 residential buildings... More details about Yongfu Zhengjie Community++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units