Elizabeth goes the Longhua Park of Revolutionary Martyrs May 21, 2011

Yeah, I know. It's about time I posted this. What is that famous saying? Right, better late than never. So just read and enjoy.

The Longhua Park of Revolutionary Martyrs-how's that for the name of a park? I feel more comradely just typing it. It's also called the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetary. If you are looking for monumental sculpture, then this is the place for you! But first, Longhua Pagoda, part of the Longhua Temple site.

I can't even recall with which association I did this tour. I do know that we didn't have time to go into the temple, but thanks to Wikipedia, I can tell you a little about it:

It is the largest, most authentic and complete ancient temple complex in the city of Shanghai.

Actually, I'm not going to tell you any more in case I decide to visit this place "properly". What I did learn, courtesy of our fantastic guide, Spencer Dodington, is that this temple was used in the movie "Empire of the Sun". Cool!

The newly reconstructed front gate of the temple site.

Now on to the park. First, Wikipedia gives us some background info:

The Longhua Park of Revolutionary Martyrs is a great place to visit if you have the time. Situated next to the Longhua Temple, it provides an extra reason to make the trek out here. The park is on a site of mass execution. [Nice! Don't I take you to all the cheeriest places?] The Kuomintang carried out a purge of suspected Communists here in 1929 – a long, underground tunnel will lead you [We walked through that tunnel!] to the exact place where the remains of many victims were found and to the jail where prisoners were held. Less morbid, and more interesting, are the excellent, massive Soviet-realist sculptures that dot the grounds.

In the middle of the park is a museum about the Martyrs. [We were almost kicked out, not my fault-for a change.] The most fascinating thing about this place is how young the Communist revolutionaries were – many teenagers held significant posts in the movement. There is also some nice artwork in the museum, but there isn’t a lot of useful, historical information in English. [Not a surprise to those of us accustomed to touring in Shanghai.]

Our first monument, with many more to come...

You're actually getting a two-for-one here.

The succinctly named "Monument" ( I wish I could make up stuff like this) is in front of 

 glass pyramid-adorned building called the Memorial Museum. 

Another view

As we approached the museum, this sculpture came into sight. 

I don't know how you could miss it. 

It's HUGE, monumental even.

It's called "Liberating Shanghai". 

"Martyrs Who Died on May 30" sculpture

Talk about bold and dramatic.

I love having people in these shots because they give you a sense of scale.

Close up...great pecs!

Of course, this is still a park, so you have locals doing unspeakable things to the flora.

Buddy here was rubbing the tree, but stopped when I snapped the picture.
I have no idea why. Something about camphor, I think. 

Moving right along, we came upon this piece of art.

"Agression With One Mind" sculpture

Hmmm....who comes up with these names?

Close up

Yes, I know these subjects don't look Chinese. Blame it on their Russian art teachers. 

Next, the Martyrs' Grave, off to the left side of the Graveyard of the Unknown Martyrs.

So confusing, I know!

Close up of the end of the row.

Now the Graveyard of the Unknown Martyrs, 

which was spittin' distance away.

Not sure if you can make it out, but the Everbright Fire was actually burning.

It was just like the Eternal Flame on Parliament Hill. 

Next, we went through that tunnel you read about earlier.

Somehow I don't think it looked this tidy back in the Revolution.


On the other side, we checked out the Detention House.

As a sign explained to us, the Detention House, also called the Longhua Prison, was controlled by the Kuomingtang. The prison was built in 1916 to detain revolutionaries and patriots (trying to figure out why both would be imprisoned. Maybe it was at different times). From 1927 to 1937, it was used to detain communists and patriots. Well, that makes way more sense. Riiight...However, there is still so much I have to learn, and more importantly, retain, about Chinese history.

The Detention House's fairly grim interior 

This was the Gate Tower, built in 1920, restored in 1991.

We left the park the way we came, seeing a few different things along the way.

The Steles Garden

A final monument for you, one half of the 
"Independence, Democracy, Liberation and Construction" sculpture.


So now you know where to go if you're ever in the mood 
for grand, over-the-top pieces of art.