The First Plough of Military Reclamation

　　“The First Plough of Military Reclamation” was created by professors Zhang Yuli and Yang Meiying from the Sculpture Department of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts. Made of forged copper, the sculpture measures 7 meters in length and 2.7 meters in height, with a gray marble base that is 9 meters long and 1.4 meters high. The artists aimed to evoke memories of the pioneering era through this artistic work, adopting a solemn and profound tone. The three bare-bodied pioneer soldiers, straining to pull the plough, are familiar and deeply relatable figures to the veteran reclamation workers—depicted in simple military uniforms, using primitive farming tools, and moving with resolute steps, all of which illustrate the extremely harsh conditions of the time. The artists employed bold, expressive exaggeration to celebrate the tenacity and resilience of humanity in its struggle against nature.

　　“The First Plough of Military Reclamation” was unveiled in September 1985, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Originally named “The Ancestors,” it was primarily funded and built by the People's Government of Shihezi. The site has since become a place for revolutionary tradition education and patriotic education.