Here stands a place of rest. It is a tribute to a man of significant stature. Welcome to the final resting place of Gu Yingfen. This is the Gu Yingfen Tomb.
Gu Yingfen was buried here in 1931. The tomb’s location is in Guangzhou’s Baiyun District. It sits in the Tonghe Subdistrict of Dongkeng. The Gu Yingfen Tomb has witnessed much history.
Originally the tomb covered over 2700 square meters. In 1951 much of the tomb was seized. It became a labor camp. The tomb was even robbed.
Gu Yingfen’s son Gu Hui fought for its restoration. In 1987 the Guangzhou City Government rebuilt the tomb. It became a protected cultural relic.
The tomb complex features several key elements. Stone lions guard the entrance. A pathway leads to the main structure. A gate tower marks the entrance. A hemispherical dome covers the tomb itself. A monument stands to commemorate Gu Yingfen.
The tombstone bears an inscription. It reads “Tomb of Gu, Member of the National Government”. Hu Hanmin wrote the inscription. The rear of the monument notes its construction. “Built by the National Government” it says. This happened in November of the 20th year of the Republic of China.
Gu Yingfen was an early member of the Kuomintang. He was a capable organizer. Sun Yat-sen and Hu Hanmin valued him. After Sun Yat-sen’s death Chiang Kai-shek detained Hu Hanmin. Gu Yingfen became a key figure. He promoted an anti-Chiang coalition in Southwest China. Some believe his early death led to the coalition’s failure. It left Hu Hanmin without a vital connection.
Gu Yingfen’s personal history is also interesting. He was born in Guangzhou. He studied in Japan in 1904. There he joined the Tongmenghui. He followed Sun Yat-sen in revolutionary activities. He graduated from Tokyo’s College of Law and Politics in 1906. After returning to China he held various government posts. Sadly Gu Yingfen died from a severe tooth ailment in 1931.
In 1933 the government honored Gu Yingfen. It founded Guangdong Qinqin University. The university had colleges of commerce engineering and education. Later it moved to Guangxi due to the Sino-Japanese War. The KMT Ministry of Education closed it in the 1940s. The South China Normal University evolved from its education college.
Gu Yingfen’s son Gu Hui donated his father’s statue. This gift was for display in the library of South China Normal University. A Gu Qinqin Education Fund was established. It helped Gu Hui and his family during their early years. Gu Hui attended St. John’s University in Shanghai.
Gu Hui lived in the United States for many years. He ran a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. He welcomed visiting Chinese leaders. Gu Hui passed away at the age of 89 in 2013.
The Gu Yingfen Tomb stands as a reminder. It marks a life dedicated to China’s tumultuous early 20th century. It is a testament to a man’s contributions. It is a landmark amidst Guangzhou’s modern landscape.