The Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition

Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition

The Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Republican-era Guangzhou Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition is located on Wansong Ridge, Changzhou Island, Huangpu, in the eastern suburbs of Guangzhou. It commemorates the 516 martyrs—faculty and students of the Whampoa Military Academy—who sacrificed their lives during the two Eastern Expeditions in 1925. The cemetery covers an area of approximately 50,000 square meters and features a central axis composed of a memorial archway, a memorial path, pavilions, burial mounds, and a victory monument. Facing south and overlooking the Pearl River to the north, with Wansong Ridge at its back, the cemetery is built against the hillside, exuding a majestic aura and is often referred to as the “Little Huanghuagang.”

The memorial archway stands by the Pearl River, approximately 10 meters high and 47 meters wide, constructed from rectangular granite blocks. It has three large stone arches, with the central one being the largest. On both sides of the archway are stone plaques inscribed with the gilded seal script “Memorial Archway for Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition,” calligraphed by Chiang Kai-shek, then president of the Whampoa Military Academy. The top is covered with brown glazed tiles, giving it a solemn and dignified appearance.

The memorial path is paved with granite slabs. The burial mound is square-shaped, 1.85 meters high, and approximately 31 meters in length and width, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters. It is surrounded by iron railings, and at its center stands a square granite pavilion about 3.4 meters high. The stone stele inside the pavilion bears seven large characters in clerical script: “Tomb of Martyrs Fallen in the Battle of the East River.” In front of the burial mound is a large rectangular offering table made of polished terrazzo.

The victory monument is located behind the burial mound. It is a triumphal arch-style structure built from granite, approximately 10 meters high and 14.3 meters wide. The horizontal plaque on the archway is inscribed with “Victory Monument for Martyrs Fallen in the Battle of the East River,” signed “Written by Zhang Renjie, August, Year 15 of the Republic of China.” Inside the archway, the walls of the central hall are inlaid with several commemorative steles, including the “Monument to Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition of the Officers Training School of the National Revolutionary Army,” “Tombstone of Major General Liu,” “Name Inscription Stele for Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition of the Officers Training School of the National Revolutionary Army,” and “Record of Renovation of the Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition.” Behind the victory monument lies a cluster of graves of later Whampoa cadets and students. To the east of the main tomb is the grave of martyr Cai Guangju, while to the west lies a joint tomb for 17 Whampoa-trained Kuomintang major generals.

The Cemetery of Martyrs Fallen in the Eastern Expedition was completed on June 16, 1926. The memorial path, memorial archway, and dock were added in 1937.

In January 1988, the State Council designated the former site of the Whampoa Military Academy and this cemetery as National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Changzhou Subdistrict: Established in August 2002, Changzhou Subdistrict is located in the southwest of Huangpu District and is an independent island at the mouth of the Pearl River. It is the site of the renowned former Whampoa Military Academy. To the southeast, it is connected by a bridge to Xiaoguwei in Xinzao Town, Panyu District; to the west, it faces Haizhu District; and to the north, it looks across the river to the old port of Huangpu. Covering a total area of 11.5 square kilometers, including 8.5 square kilometers of land area, it had 177 hectares of arable land and 1,146.5 mu of forested hills at the end of 2003. The subdistrict comprises four community committees—Shenjing, Changzhou, Huangchuan, and Meiyuan—and 36 resident groups, with a registered population of 20,935 people from 6,231 households…  Detailed information about Changzhou Subdistrict++