In the bustling Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing, stands a solemn giant monument, which is the Monument to the People's Heroes. A resolution in 1949 sparked a collision of passion and wisdom across the country, and after nine years and the joint efforts of countless people, this monument finally stood tall in Tiananmen Square in 1958. From a 300-ton boulder to only 60 tons left, what unimaginable challenges have been experienced?
On the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the people of the whole country, in the joy of the founding of the People's Republic of China, also deeply felt the importance of commemorating the heroes and martyrs who had passed away. On September 30, 1949, on the eve of the founding ceremony, the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) passed a major resolution on the construction of a monument to the people's heroes. The next day, in the midst of all the attention, a grand groundbreaking ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square. This moment is not only a remembrance of history, but also an expectation for the future.
The process of building this monument can be described as painstaking. The design phase is already a brainstorming session. From 1952 onwards, the Monument Construction Committee began a nationwide call for designs, when architects, sculptors, ordinary people and even overseas Chinese from all over the country poured their design ideas and enthusiasm into it. In the end, the committee selected more than 240 design proposals, each of which embodies the designer's infinite respect and creativity.
But the final design of the monument was not all smooth sailing. There was a lot of controversy in the design process, especially the design of the top of the monument, and the views of architects and sculptors were very different. On the one hand, architects advocate a simple and solemn style, and on the other hand, sculptors believe that group sculptures should be used to represent the image of heroes. This debate between art and utility, tradition and modernity is a testament to the thoughtfulness behind design.
Material selection and processing are also a challenge. The main material of the monument is a single piece of granite that is 14.7 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and weighs 60 tons. How was the original 300-ton boulder transported and precisely cut? It is said that during the transportation process, the workers had to overcome many difficulties, and even many failures and adjustments, to ensure that the boulder could reach Beijing safely. Every inch of cutting, every angle of polishing, embodies the efforts of the workers to drip through the stone.
Not only that, but the construction of the monument also encountered many external difficulties. At that time, the founding of the People's Republic of China was not long ago, the country's economic foundation was weak and materials were in short supply, but the whole country showed an amazing spirit of unity and sacrifice. Workers often work overtime, day and night, and their sweat pours every inch of the monument. Moreover, many ordinary citizens also voluntarily donated funds and materials to support the construction of the monument. This spirit of participation by the whole people makes the Monument to the People's Heroes not only a material building, but also a spiritual symbol in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese.
The carving of the monument was also a huge undertaking. Each relief on the monument is meticulously carved by leading artists, and these reliefs vividly tell a series of historical events from the Opium War to the War of Resistance Against Japan, showing the heroic deeds of countless heroes and martyrs. In particular, the stele on the front of the monument is engraved with Chairman Mao's handwritten inscription "The people's heroes are immortal". This sentence is not only a remembrance of the heroes of the past, but also an inspiration for the future.
The inauguration of the monument was held on April 22, 1958, and on this day, countless people with excitement and admiration gathered in Tiananmen Square to witness this historic moment. The completion of the monument not only marks the memory of the heroes who died in the past wars, but also symbolizes the strength and self-confidence of New China. Every year on the Qingming Festival and the country's major anniversaries, countless tourists and citizens come here to pay tribute to the heroes.
Have you ever wondered how this monument, which symbolizes the spirit of the nation and its historical memory, was built step by step, from the idea to the actual construction? What are the little known details behind it? For example, how the original 300 tons of granite were precisely cut and carved, and what technical challenges and undisclosed labor stories have been experienced?
The Monument to the People's Heroes is not only a memorial building, but also a witness to a piece of history and a cultural inheritance. From the suggestion to the completion, every step has condensed the hard work and wisdom of countless people. Standing in the middle of Tiananmen Square, this monument is not only a commemoration of the past, but also an inspiration to every Chinese in the future.