The revolutionary martyrs bravely fought for national independence, people’s liberation, and social progress, creating the happy life we enjoy today. As the Party’s Day approaches, let’s embark on a journey to commemorate the martyrs and pass on the red spirit from generation to generation.
Shayu Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument
Under the Mutianyu Great Wall, Shayu Village has many red historical relics, among which the Shayu Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument was built to commemorate the Shayu Battle, which marked the first shot of the Anti-Japanese War in Beiping. The monument honors the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the battle, with inscriptions detailing the experiences of the Eighth Route Army’s Fourth Division fighting the Japanese in Shayu in June 1938.
The first shot in Pingbei showcased the heroic spirit of the people of Huairou. During the fiercest moments of the battle, the villagers of Shayu, Jingyu, and Nanye spontaneously organized to support the Eighth Route Army in fiercely attacking the Japanese invaders. Some guided the soldiers, boiled water, and delivered meals; others took down their own doors, grabbed ropes, and braved the hail of bullets to rescue the wounded from the battlefield.
More than 70 years have passed, and today, when people drive past the eastern entrance of Shayu, they will see the monument inscribed with “National Heroes Immortal,” written by Ma Huizhi, the former secretary of the Hebei Provincial Committee, who participated in leading the Jidong People’s Anti-Japanese Uprising and establishing the Jirecha Anti-Japanese Base Area, supporting the Eighth Route Army’s Fourth Division in guerrilla warfare. The monument stands tall among the green pines and cypresses, appearing particularly solemn and majestic.
Address: East of Shayu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou County, Beijing
Pingxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial
The Pingxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial has a building area of 4,350 square meters and an exhibition area of 2,500 square meters. It was built in 1992 and completed its expansion project in August 2005. The memorial has become a patriotic education base integrating the memorial hall, Pingxi Anti-Japanese Martyrs Cemetery, Pingxi Unknown Martyrs Cemetery, and Pingxi Martyrs Cemetery. It is a national key martyr memorial building protection unit.
The museum’s exhibits are divided into seven parts: “The Communist Party-led Pingxi Anti-Japanese War,” “Creation and Development of the Pingxi Anti-Japanese Base,” “Atrocities of Japanese Invaders,” “Hard Years: The People of Pingxi Persist in Struggle,” “Turning to Counterattack for Victory in the War Against Japan,” “Record of Some Martyrs from Pingxi,” and “Remembering the Martyrs to Inherit Their Will.” More than 3,000 precious historical materials such as artifacts, poems, and photos are displayed. The exhibition introduces from different aspects and multiple angles the national war resistance situation and the creation process of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei anti-Japanese base.
Pingxi is named for being west of Beiping (now Beijing), mainly including areas like Fangshan, Laishui, Yi County, and Mentougou, serving as an important passage connecting enemy-occupied areas with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border region. The song “Without the Communist Party There Would Be No New China” was composed at Zhongtang Temple in Tangshang Village.
Address: Management Office for Pingxi Anti-Japanese Martyr’s Cemetery at Shidu, Fangshan District, Beijing
Bai Yihua Martyr Memorial Hall
On the north bank of Miyun Reservoir, known as the “Pearl of North China,” stands a solemn and majestic marble monument inscribed with eight characters by General Xiao Ke: “Blood Nourishes Yuyan, Fame Lasts Forever”. It commemorates the anti-Japanese national hero, former commander of the 10th Regiment of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Infantry of the Eighth Route Army, and founder of the Fengluanmi Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Base, Bai Yihua.
On February 4, 1941, he was unfortunately shot by a Japanese sniper in the west mountains of Maying, Miyun, and died for his country at the age of 30. The Eighth Route Army’s Jirecha Advance Army issued a “Letter to All Comrades,” praising him as an excellent commander, national hero, and proletarian vanguard.
The current monument area covers a total area of 3,000 square meters. At the entrance of the monument area, there is a 6-meter-high stone archway. The front is inscribed with “Eternal Glory to Martyr Bai Yihua,” and the back is inscribed with “National Elite.” Inside the park, there is a marble bust of the martyr, a marble screen, and on the screen are eight characters handwritten by General Xiao Ke: “Blood Nourishes Youyan, Name Lasts Forever,” as well as the “Biography of Martyr Bai Yihua” written by his old comrade-in-arms Wang Kang.
In 2006, the Miyun Anti-Japanese Struggle History Exhibition Hall was built, covering a total area of 1.5 mu (approximately 1,000 square meters) with a building area of 293 square meters. The hall is 10 meters high, with a roof shaped like an Eighth Route Army cap. The memorial hall has four exhibition areas: the Life Story of Martyr Bai Yihua Exhibition Area, the Miyun Anti-Japanese Struggle History Exhibition Area, the Miyun Anti-Japanese Struggle Artifacts and Photos Exhibition Area, and the Photos and Inscriptions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and the Main Leaders of the Ji-Re-Liao Military Region Exhibition Area. The main content is displayed on 33 illustrated panels, reflecting the anti-Japanese struggle in the Miyun area.
Address: Hebei Village, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing
Heroic Mother Deng Yufen Sculpture Theme Square
Located in Zhangjiafen Village, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing, the “Heroic Mother Deng Yufen” sculpture theme square covers an area of 12.9 mu (approximately 8,600 square meters). It commemorates a heroic mother named Deng Yufen, who sent seven relatives to the front lines for the liberation of the Chinese nation and the birth of New China, all of whom died in battle. She is honored as a contemporary “She Taijun”, a legendary figure from Chinese history and folklore, renowned for her bravery, wisdom, and leadership as the matriarch of the Yang family in stories of ancient China.
The sculpture, designed by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, stands 5 meters tall and is made of granite. The base is made of mountain rocks, and Heroic Mother Deng Yufen stands on these rocks. The mountain rocks and the Great Wall symbolize her firm revolutionary beliefs and indomitable revolutionary spirit. The seven peace doves on the rocks represent her seven relatives and the heroes of Qi Lie Camp.
Heroic Mother Deng Yufen holds cloth shoes and sewing tools in her hands while carrying cloth clothes on her arm, gazing into the distance. This signifies a mother’s hope for her children’s safe return from war.
Address: Zhangjiafen Village, Shicheng Town, Miyun District, Beijing
