Hekou Martyrs’ Cemetery, Honghe
Overview
Hekou Martyrs’ Cemetery (Hekou Yaozu Zizhixian Lièshì Língyuán, 河口瑶族自治县烈士陵园) is located in Hekou Yao Autonomous County (Hekou Yaozu Zizhixian, 河口瑶族自治县), Honghe Prefecture (Honghe Zhou, 红河州), Yunnan Province (Yunnan Sheng, 云南省). The cemetery was established in 1952 and covers an area of 35,000 square meters. It is the final resting place for 1,034 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the struggle to liberate Hekou and in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam. Among the honored are three first-class combat heroes: Yan Long (岩龙, Yán Lóng), awarded the title “Lone Hero” by the Central Military Commission (中央军委, Zhōngyāng Jūnwěi); Shen Yulong (沈玉龙, Shěn Yùlóng), honored as “Heroic Militia” by the Kunming Military Region (昆明军区, Kūnmíng Jūnqū); and Zhao Zhonglin (赵忠林, Zhào Zhōnglín), recognized as “Iron Soldier” by the Kunming Military Region. Additionally, there are eight first-class meritorious individuals, 53 second-class meritorious individuals, and 189 third-class meritorious individuals. The cemetery is designated as a provincial-level memorial facility in Yunnan and serves as a national defense education base.
In October 2021, it was included in the public list of ethnic unity and progress education bases in Honghe Prefecture.
Hekou Shuitou Martyrs’ Cemetery
Hekou Shuitou Martyrs’ Cemetery (河口水头烈士陵园, Hékǒu Shuǐtóu Lièshì Língyuán) is located just five kilometers from the county town of Hekou (Hekou, 河口), separated from Vietnam (越南, Yuènán) by a river. Established in April 1979 and covering an area of 18 acres, it underwent renovation in 2005. The cemetery houses the remains of 358 martyrs.
Signage and Location
The sign leading to Hekou Shuitou Martyrs’ Cemetery indicates that it is situated beside the Shuitou Reservoir (水头水库, Shuǐtóu Shuǐkù) near Binglangzhai (槟榔寨, Bīnglángzhài). The memorial monument can be seen from a distance, with a driving range nearby.
Historical Background
On February 17, 1979, following orders from the Central Military Commission, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) (中国人民解放军, Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn) border defense forces initiated a self-defense counterattack against Vietnamese aggressors in the border areas of Guangxi (广西, Guǎngxī) and Yunnan. The cemetery has been named a “National Defense Education Base in Yunnan Province” (云南省国防教育基地, Yúnnán Shěng Guófáng Jiàoyù Jīdì), a “Honghe Prefecture Education Base for the History of the Communist Party” (红河州中共党史教育基地, Hónghé Zhōu Zhōnggòng Dǎngshǐ Jiàoyù Jīdì), and a “Patriotic Education Base in Hekou County” (河口县爱国主义教育基地, Hékǒu Xiàn Àiguózhǔyì Jiàoyù Jīdì) by provincial, prefectural, and county authorities.
Cemetery Features
The entrance gate bears the inscription “Shuitou Martyrs’ Cemetery” (水头烈士陵园, Shuǐtóu Lièshì Língyuán). Upon entering, visitors ascend steps to a wall engraved with three military medals, which states, “History has no ifs; war is for peace.” The front of the memorial monument is inscribed with Mao Zedong’s words: “The people’s heroes are immortal” (人民英雄永垂不朽, Rénmín Yīngxióng Yǒngchuí Bùxiǔ), while the side displays “Death is heavier than Mount Tai” (死重于泰山, Sǐ Zhòng Yú Tàishān).
In 2009, the Hekou County government included the Shuitou Martyrs’ Cemetery in a national restoration project. The renovations encompassed the memorial monument, memorial square, graves, surrounding walls, and walking paths. In 2014, construction began on the Shuitou Martyrs’ Memorial Hall (水头烈士纪念馆, Shuǐtóu Lièshì Jìniànguǎn), with a total investment of 3.9 million yuan and a building area of 1,001.77 square meters.
The martyrs’ graves are rectangular, arranged neatly among the mountains, with gravestones made of natural marble. They include soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives during the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam in February 1979, as well as armed police officers who perished during the major flood disaster relief efforts in 1995.
Notable Martyrs
One of the martyrs honored at the cemetery is Yan Long (岩龙, Yán Lóng), a soldier from Unit 35205 (35205部队, 35205 Bùduì), 5th Company (五连, Wǔ Lián), 4th Platoon (四班, Sì Bān), who hailed from Jinghong County (景洪县, Jǐnghóng Xiàn), Yunnan Province. Yan Long joined the People’s Liberation Army in 1978 and became a member of the Communist Youth League (中国共产主义青年团, Zhōngguó Gòngchǎnzhǔyì Qīngnián Tuán) the same year. He participated in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam in 1979. During the battle, he lost contact with his unit and advanced alone to within 100 meters of the enemy. He opened fire and fought valiantly for four hours, killing over twenty enemy soldiers before he was honorably martyred at the age of 19.
How to Get There
By Car: Hekou Martyrs’ Cemetery is approximately 5 kilometers from Hekou County Town. You can reach it in about 10 minutes by car.
Public Transport: Check local bus schedules for routes to Hekou, then take a taxi to the cemetery.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer pleasant weather and beautiful scenery.
- Respect the Site: Be mindful of the solemnity of the cemetery; maintain a respectful demeanor and dress appropriately.
- Local Cuisine: Try traditional Yunnan dishes in nearby restaurants, such as “crossing the bridge rice noodles” (过桥米线, Guòqiáo Mǐxiàn).
- Photography: Capture the memorials and beautiful surroundings, but be respectful of areas where photography may be restricted.
- Guided Tours: Consider hiring a local guide for a more in-depth understanding of the cemetery’s history and significance.
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