Yunnan Monument to the People’s Heroes in Kunming
Chinese Name: 云南人民英雄纪念碑
English Name: Yunnan Monument to the People's Heroes in Kunming
The Yunnan Monument to the People’s Heroes, located in the central section of Guanghua Street (光华街) in Wuhua District, Kunming, Yunnan Province, is a source of pride for the people of Yunnan. Officially completed on February 24, 1995, the monument commemorates the heroic sacrifices made by the people of Yunnan in the fight for national liberation and socialism.
Location (地理位置)
The monument stands at the center of Guanghua Street in Kunming, the traditional political and economic core of the city. In front of the monument is Yunrui Park (云瑞公园), and behind it lies the People’s Victory Hall (人民胜利堂).
Geographic and Climatic Details:
- Location: Central section of Guanghua Street, Kunming, Yunnan Province (云南省昆明市光华街中段)
- Climate: Subtropical plateau monsoon climate (亚热带高原季风气候)
- Completion Date: February 24, 1995 (竣工时间1995年2月24日)
Historical Background (历史过程)
The Early Struggles (早期斗争)
The establishment of the Yunnan local organization of the Communist Party of China on November 7, 1926, marked the beginning of a long and heroic struggle by the people of Yunnan. The party led various ethnic groups in arduous battles. At the end of 1930, the Yunnan Communist Party organization suffered severe setbacks, with many leaders and revolutionaries sacrificing their lives.
Long March and Local Resistance (长征与地方斗争)
In 1935 and 1936, the Central Red Army (中央红军) and the Red Second and Sixth Army Corps (红二、六军团) passed through Yunnan during the Long March. The Yunnan detachment fought for 12 years in the border region of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Earlier, in 1934, the Red Seventh Army (红七军) sent cadres into Funing (富宁), Yunnan, to form a labor and peasant guerrilla force on the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi border, which fought until the liberation of Funing.
Anti-Japanese War Efforts (抗日救亡)
In 1935, the Yunnan local party organization was rebuilt, uniting the people of Yunnan in a broad anti-Japanese resistance movement. The 58th and 60th armies of Yunnan went to the front lines and fought valiantly in battles such as Taierzhuang (台儿庄) and Zhongtiaoshan (中条山), with tens of thousands of soldiers sacrificing their lives on the battlefield.
War of Liberation (解放战争)
During the War of Liberation, the Yunnan local organization led patriotic and democratic movements in the cities, such as the “121” movement (一二一爱国民主运动). After 1948, the underground Communist Party of Yunnan launched large-scale armed struggles across the rural areas of the province, eventually working with field armies to liberate Yunnan.
The Liberation of Yunnan (云南解放)
On February 24, 1950, the Second Field Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (中国人民解放军二野四兵团) successfully entered Kunming. On that day, Commander Chen Geng (陈赓) solemnly announced at a provincial meeting that Yunnan had been fully liberated.
Commemorating the Heroes (纪念英雄)
To forever honor the undying contributions of these heroes, the first session of the People’s Congress of Yunnan Province passed a resolution in December 1950 to build a monument for the people’s heroes in Kunming. After years of planning and construction, the monument was completed on February 24, 1995.
Monument Description (纪念碑描述)
The Yunnan Monument to the People’s Heroes stands majestically in front of the People’s Victory Hall (人民胜利堂) in the heart of Kunming. In the center of the monument’s front face, eight characters written by Deng Xiaoping (邓小平) are inscribed:
“人民英雄永垂不朽！”
“People’s Heroes Are Immortal!”
These golden characters, written in a refined and bold style, express the enduring reverence for those who sacrificed their lives for the cause. The back of the monument bears the following inscription:
“一八四零年鸦片战争以来，为反抗帝国主义侵略，推翻封建专制统治，解放云南，保卫祖国边疆，建设社会主义而英勇献身的人民英雄永垂不朽！” “Since the Opium War of 1840, the people’s heroes who have bravely sacrificed their lives in resistance to imperialist aggression, the overthrow of feudal autocracy, the liberation of Yunnan, the defense of the nation’s borders, and the building of socialism, will live on in eternal glory!”
Key Attractions and Names:
- Yunnan Monument to the People’s Heroes (云南人民英雄纪念碑)
- Guanghua Street (光华街)
- Yunrui Park (云瑞公园)
- People’s Victory Hall (人民胜利堂)
- Deng Xiaoping (邓小平)
- Taierzhuang Battle (台儿庄战役)
- Zhongtiaoshan Battle (中条山战役)
- Red Army Long March (中央红军长征)
- Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Guerrilla Forces (滇黔桂边区劳农游击队)
- “121” Patriotic Movement (一二一爱国民主运动)
- Chen Geng (陈赓)
This monument serves as a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for Yunnan’s liberation and the nation’s defense, embodying the historical legacy and spirit of heroism that continues to inspire future generations.
