South Xinjiang Martyrs' Cemetery

South Xinjiang Martyrs' Cemetery

The South Xinjiang Martyrs' Cemetery is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic site of red tourism.

South Xinjiang Martyrs' Cemetery

The South Xinjiang Martyrs' Cemetery was first built in 1984. By the Qingming Festival in 1986, the main construction was completed, and people came to pay their respects to the martyrs.

On Qingming in 1986 and April 10, a total of 16,956 people from 120 organizations, including government employees, teachers and students, families of the martyrs, and members of the public, came to the cemetery to pay tribute to the martyrs. Among them were 452 family members of martyrs from provinces such as Henan, Hebei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Guizhou; 5,485 people from party and government leaders, government employees, family members of martyrs, teachers and students, and the public within counties in Wenshan Prefecture; and 6,296 people from government agencies, institutions, enterprises, people's groups, and the public in Xichou. A total of 82 wreaths, 58 potted plants, over 800 small flowers, and 52 trees were offered. Many touching stories emerged during the tribute. A 12-year-old Young Pioneer girl from a primary school in Xichou inserted five 5-fen coins into the soil of the grave of Ma Ping, a First-Class Merit recipient and combat hero. She said, “Uncle Ma Ping, you gave your young life defending our country. I am determined to learn your selfless and fearless spirit, to motivate myself to study well and acquire the skills to build our socialist motherland, and to complete the mission you wished to accomplish but could not.”

The County Party Committee Propaganda Department, together with the County Federation of Trade Unions, the County Youth League Committee, the County Women’s Federation, and the County Civil Affairs Bureau, organized over 200 members from 44 Communist Youth League branches under the county government to visit the martyrs' cemetery. They added soil to the graves, planted trees, and collectively pledged to the martyrs: “We will definitely carry on your will, learn the skills to build our socialist motherland, and make our country strong.”

Since then, every year during the Qingming Festival, the cemetery has received families of martyrs and memorial delegations from outside the county and province. Townships (towns) organize government officials, teachers, students, and others to visit the martyrs' cemetery. Every year, led by the County Party Committee Propaganda Department and the County Civil Affairs Bureau, government agencies, institutions, enterprises, people’s groups, teachers and students, and the public are organized to pay tribute to the martyrs—this tradition has never been interrupted.

On April 3, 1992, a total of 9,407 people, including government employees, teachers and students, and the public, visited the cemetery and offered 70 wreaths. Eight families consisting of 25 people, along with an 110-person memorial delegation, were received. Activities were also organized to guide the families of martyrs and the memorial delegation to pay tribute at martyrs’ cemeteries in Gejiu, Jinping, Hekou, Maguan, and Malipo.

In 1995, 2,250 people participated in memorial activities, 112 wreaths were offered, and 40 family members were received. That year, 123,616 yuan was spent on cemetery maintenance.

In 1998, 15,000 people participated in memorial activities, 101 wreaths were offered, 8 families consisting of 27 people were received, and 2 memorial delegations totaling 53 people were welcomed.

In 1999, 11,500 people participated in memorial activities, 4 families consisting of 25 people were received, 105 wreaths were offered.

In 2000, 65 government agencies, schools, and public institutions organized 11,600 people to pay tribute, 11 families consisting of 48 people were received, 4 memorial delegations totaling 221 people visited, and 85 wreaths were offered.

Xisa Town: Xisa Town is a town under the jurisdiction of Xichou County. The town government is located in Xisa, which serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the county, as well as the largest hub for trade and commerce. The town administers 8 village committees and several community resident committees, encompassing 256 village (resident) groups with a population of 42,722. The residents include people from five ethnic groups: Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yi, and Mongolian. The total land area is 175.78 square kilometers, with existing cultivated land covering 27,553.3 mu, including 3,385.4 mu of paddy fields and 24,167.9 mu of dry land. The per capita arable land for farmers is 0.91 mu.

The area features high mountains, deep valleys, peculiar rocks, and unusual caves... More details about Xisa Town++