Memorial Temple and Tomb of Martyr Yang Gensi

　　On November 6, 1922, Martyr Yang Gensi was born in Yanglangdian, Huangqiao area, Taixing County, Jiangsu Province. After growing up and joining the army, he was successively awarded titles such as “Combat Model,” “King of Demolition,” “Third-Class People’s Hero,” and “First-Class Combat Hero.” On November 29, 1950, on the Korean battlefield while defending his homeland, he led a platoon to hold Hill 1071 and fought to the death against the U.S. “elite troops.” After repelling eight consecutive enemy counterattacks and when only he remained on the position, he embraced a pack of explosives and charged into the enemy ranks, dying alongside them. The highest leadership of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army posthumously recognized him as a “Special Merit Hero” and awarded him the title of “First-Class Hero.” The Korean government awarded him the title of “Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” as well as the “Gold Star Medal” and the “First-Class National Flag Medal.” The company he served in during his lifetime was named “Yang Gensi Company,” and his hometown was named “GenSi Township.”

　　 The Yang Gensi Martyrs' Cemetery underwent three phases of construction and expansion in 1955, 1980, and 2000. It now covers an area of over 35,000 square meters, including 12,000 square meters of building area. Marshal Chen Yi inscribed the inscription for the “Monument to Martyr Yang Gensi.” Marshal Peng Dehuai wrote an inscription for Martyr Yang Gensi: “An outstanding son of the Chinese people, a great soldier of internationalism, an exemplary commander of our army — Martyr Yang Gensi lives forever.” The cemetery stands a majestic statue of Martyr Yang Gensi, and six exhibition halls display a large number of cultural relics, photos, and historical materials. In 1991, the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Military Commission inscribed the slogan “Carry forward the spirit of Yang Gensi and build an elite company” for the “Yang Gensi Company.”

　　 To commemorate Martyr Yang Gensi, tens of thousands of cadres, soldiers, young students, and ordinary citizens from all over the country come to pay their respects at the martyrs’ tomb around the Qingming Festival each year, expressing their grief and receiving education in patriotism and internationalism.

　　Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, Third Batch, March 1982 — Memorial Temple and Tomb of Martyr Yang Gensi, 1955, Huanglangdian, Taixing County　

　　Yang Gensi (1922～1950)　　Yang Gensi (November 6, 1922 – November 29, 1950), originally named Yang Gengxi, was a revolutionary martyr from Taixing, Jiangsu Province. He was a national combat hero of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the first First-Class Merit Hero and Special-Class Combat Hero of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and also the first “Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” among the Volunteers. During the Huaihai Campaign, he was repeatedly awarded major and minor merits. He was 28 years old when he died in battle while blocking the retreat of U.S. forces in Korea. On September 14, 2009, he was named one of the “100 Figures Who Moved China Since the Founding of New China” by 11 departments including the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. ...... Details+