Address: Bei’aipu village, Matian town, Zuoquan county, Jinzhong, Shanxi province Opening hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Admission: Free
The Martyrdom Site of General Zuo Quan [Photo by Zhang Jing/The Convergence Media Center of Shanxi]
This is a memorial site built on the specific location where the Chinese Red Army General Zuo Quan (1905-42), a prominent figure in Chinese history, died of a fatal wound caused by a Japanese artillery shell during a battle in Liaoxian county (later renamed Zuoquan county in his honor) in 1942.
The Martyrdom Site of General Zuo Quan consists of a white marble stele that marks the location of General Zuo Quan's martyrdom, a limestone stele indicating his temporary burial site, a memorial pavilion, and a bronze statue of the general.
On Aug 25, 1937, after the Chinese Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army, Zuo Quan was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff. He crossed the Yellow River into Shanxi and, in August 1940, arrived at Wujun Temple in Liaoxian county. On July 1, 1941, he entered Matian town along with the Eighth Route Army Headquarters personnel, including its commanders Zhu De (1886-1976) and Peng Dehuai (1898-1974). During his time in Matian, Zuo Quan commanded dozens of battles.
On May 25, they found themselves beseiged by Japanese forces. While directing the breakout during the retreat, General Zuo Quan was tragically struck down by the enemy’s artillery attack and heroically sacrificed his life.
To commemorate General Zuo Quan, Liaoxian county was renamed Zuoquan county in September 1942. In May 1965, Shiziling, the site of General Zuo Quan’s martyrdom, was renamed Zuoquan Ridge. In 1985, the county government built the Memorial Pavilion for the Martyrdom Site of General Zuo Quan at the place where he fell.
