Longhua Martyrs Cemetery

One of the many sculptures/memorials in the cemetery. katielou106 (Atlas Obscura User)

Longhua Martyrs Cemetery is a memorial to those who lost their lives at the hands of Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the site of the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery was home to the Kuomintang prison. At the prison, hundreds of communists were executed in an attempt to wipe out the communist movement.

Across the cemetery are various sculptures and a Memorial Hall. The cemetery sits on the location of the actual execution grounds and visitors can still see the old prison.

Further suffering occurred at this location during World War II, as it was the site of a vast Japanese internment camp. Many westerners were also held prisoner at the camp. The Longhua Martyrs Cemetery officially opened on July 1, 1995.

It might sound odd, but the cemetery is actually a nice area to spend an afternoon. The location is calm and quiet amid the hectic bustle of Shanghai.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and give off the vibes of a Chinese-style garden.