Build up our heritage

A cemetery of Red Guards in the city of Chongqing was designated a historical site under local government protection last month. It is the only historical site of its kind in the country and will not only serve as a reminder of the terrible 10 years of the "cultural revolution" (1966 -76), it will mark a milestone in our perception of cultural heritage.

The most disastrous and fierce armed conflicts between different political factions in the early years of the "cultural revolution" took place in this southwestern city. The People's Liberation Army was involved, and heavy arms such as tanks and warships were used. Hundreds of students and workers were killed.

There used to be 24 graveyards that accommodated the tombs of slaughtered Red Guards. This cemetery, which has survived continuous urban renovations over the past three decades, holds more than 400 buried Red Guards.