Martyrs' Monument for the Construction of South China Highway

　　The Martyrs' Monument for the Construction of South China Highway is a protected memorial site for martyrs in Haikou City and a key cultural relic protection unit of Haikou. It is located on the western slope of the 10-kilometer mark along the Haikou–Yulin (Central Section) Highway in the Shiziling Development Zone, Xiuying District, Haikou City. The managing authority is the Haikou Highway Sub-bureau of the Hainan Provincial Highway Bureau.

　　Originally built in December 1954 in Xiaojie, Xiuying, Haikou City, the Martyrs' Monument for the Construction of South China Highway was relocated to its current site in September 2001. The relocation was carried out under the specific implementation of the Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation on behalf of the provincial government, resulting in a more magnificent structure. The monument faces east and is built with reinforced concrete and surfaced with black marble. It covers a total area of 10 mu (approximately 1.65 acres) and features a garden-style layout divided into five terraced levels: Upon entering through the gate, you first reach the first terrace, then climb four steps to the second terrace, ascend six more steps to the third terrace, climb eight additional steps to the fourth terrace, and finally take four more steps to reach the fifth and top terrace — the base platform of the monument itself. The monument consists of three parts: the base (lower level), the second level of the base, and the main body. The total height is 19.52 meters (symbolizing the year 1952, when martyrs sacrificed their lives during the highway construction), while the base’s lower level stands 2.21 meters tall (commemorating the 221 martyrs). The front of the monument's main body bears an inscription by Mao Zedong: “Strengthen defenses, consolidate Hainan,” and the back features an inscription by Zhu De: “Build the highway well, striving to benefit the people and strengthen national defense.” On the front of the base’s lower level is engraved the monument’s name and establishment date: “Martyrs' Monument for the Construction of South China Highway – December 1954” and “Reconstructed September 2001 – Martyrs' Monument for the Construction of the Haikou–Yulin (Central Section) Highway,” while the north and south sides list the names of the martyrs who died during the construction of the Haikou–Yulin (Central Section) Highway. The upper front part of the base’s second level is inscribed with a commemorative text drafted by the Ministry of Transport: > "To consolidate national defense and develop Hainan, the Central People’s Government decided to construct the South China Highway, beginning construction in the autumn of 1952. Hainan has a sweltering climate, long rainy seasons, and frequent typhoon attacks. The Haikou–Yulin (Central Section) Highway traverses the densely forested and sparsely populated Wuzhi Mountain region, making the project extremely challenging. However, under the correct leadership of the Communist Party of China and Chairman Mao, with the strong support of the people across the nation—especially the people of Hainan—and the selfless assistance of Soviet experts, as well as the patriotic and revolutionary heroism displayed by the People’s Liberation Army soldiers and all workers involved in the construction, all difficulties were eventually overcome, and the project was triumphantly completed in 1954. > During the construction, some comrades sacrificed their precious lives for the cause of the nation’s highway development. Their deeds were great, and their sacrifices were honorable. May the martyrs live forever!" The back and both sides of this level feature bas-reliefs depicting scenes of the road-building heroes at work.

　　

　　Source: Party History Research Office of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the CPC