Jimei Liberation Monument - Xiamen - TravBuddy

Jimei is the hometown of Mr. Tan Kah-Kee, a famous overseas Chinese leader who devoted himself wholly to education. In this small hamlet, Mr. Tan built 12 different kinds of schools including Xiamen University, a science center, gymnasium, library, hospital, and a navigation club. These facilities changed Jimei from a rural village into a sizeable town whose total student population of more than 100,000 exceeds that of the local residents. All of Mr. Tan's buildings are constructed in his unique blend of Western and Chinese architecture, using red brick, white stone, and glazed tiles. Owing to the presence of these science halls, libraries and hospitals, the town was called "Jimei School Village" - a name renowned at home as well as abroad.

Ao Yuan, lying on the southeastern seashore of Jimei, was built in four years from 1950. The Jimei Liberation Monument of 18 meters height (about 59 feet) and the tomb of Mr. Tan are sited in Ao Yuan.

Jimei Liberation Monument, with an inscription of Mao Zedong on the front and a tablet record written by Mr. Tan on the back, stands in the centre of the garden. The stone foundation of the monument consists of two stages. The low stage has eight steps which represent the eight-year Anti-Japanese War, the upper stage consists of three steps, symbolizing the three year Liberation War. They tell the later generations that victories were hard-won and therefore should be cherished. The foundation of the monument is surrounded by gray jade carvings and relief sculptures polished with great care, embodying a concentrated reflection of exquisite workmanship and a unique style of south Fujian stone carving art.