Martyrs' Cemetery of Li Dazhao

　　    The Martyrs' Cemetery of Li Dazhao was built to honor Li Dazhao, a pioneer of the Chinese communist movement, one of China’s earliest Marxists, and a founding member of the Communist Party of China. The cemetery is located at the foot of the scenic Fragrant Hills in the western suburbs of Beijing, in the central area of the Wan’an Cemetery. It faces east and features a traditional courtyard-style architecture, covering an area of 2,200 square meters.

　　    The main hall on the west side of the cemetery houses an exhibition room dedicated to the life and deeds of the martyr. Upon entering the exhibition room, the first thing visitors see is an important historical relic — a stone stele carved in 1934 by the underground Communist Party in northern China to commemorate Li Dazhao when he was laid to rest. This stele could not be placed at the martyr’s grave during those difficult times and had to be buried underground along with his coffin. It was not until 1983, 50 years later, when the cemetery was established, that the stele was finally unearthed and displayed, becoming one of the most significant revolutionary relics in the cemetery. On both sides of this tombstone are inscriptions in memory of the martyr by Chinese party and state leaders such as Zhu De, Chen Yi, Li Xiannian, Lin Boqu, and He Xiangning.

　　    The exhibition room displays over 250 items, including photographs, texts, and physical materials related to the martyr’s life. These are divided into ten sections: “Orphaned in Youth, Determined in Adolescence,” “In-depth Study of Politics, Exploring Ways to Revitalize the Nation,” “Participation in the May Fourth New Culture Movement,” “A Renowned Scholar and Youth Mentor of His Time,” “Praising the Russian October Revolution and Spreading Marxism,” “Struggling for the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” “Promoting the National Revolutionary United Front and the Victory of the Northern Expedition,” “Leading Revolutionary Struggles in North China,” “Heroically Devoted to Communism,” and “Living Forever in People’s Hearts.” Together, they provide a comprehensive overview of the martyr’s glorious and heroic 38-year journey.

　　    Over the past decade, the Martyrs' Cemetery of Li Dazhao has become an important base for patriotic education and revolutionary tradition education. The small square in front of the martyr’s statue, which can accommodate more than 500 people, serves as an important venue for members of the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers to hold various ceremonies and activities. With strong support from all sectors of society, the cemetery actively carries out various educational and promotional activities. It has organized the publication of the “Wan’an Series,” which includes not only the “Biography of Li Dazhao” to promote the martyr, but also takes advantage of the historical prominence of those buried in Wan’an Cemetery to publish works such as “Masters of Literature and Art” and “Eminent Scholars,” introducing the outstanding sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to primary and secondary school students and the general public.

　　Li Dazhao (1889～1927)　　    Li Dazhao was a pioneer of the Chinese communist movement, a great Marxist, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary, and one of the main founders of the Communist Party of China. Born on the sixth day of the tenth month in the fifteenth year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty (October 29, 1889), Li Dazhao was from Daheituo Village, Leting County, Hebei Province. From a young age, he was determined to seek a way out for the suffering Chinese nation. Proceeding from a patriotic stance, he transitioned from democracy to communism and, responding to the needs of the era, was the first in China to raise high the banner of Marxism-Leninism, pointing out a new direction toward socialism for the country and becoming one of China’s earliest Marxists... More+