Tomb of Ge Yunfei, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

The Tomb of Ge Yunfei is located at the southwest foot of Huangwan Temple Hill, west of Sanquanwang Natural Village, Sanquanwang Village, Suoqian Town. The tomb was built in 1841, the 21st year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. It faces south and is semi-circular in shape. The base is made of stone strips, and the top is covered with earth. The tombstone is inscribed with the words "Tomb of Ge Zhuangjie, General Zhenwei, posthumously awarded the title of Prince Shaobao, August, 21st year of the Daoguang reign," written by Zong Jichen, a scholar of the Daoguang reign. The tombstone is inscribed with the words "Loyalty and Integrity," written by the Xianfeng Emperor, and the couplet "The light of the spring platform, the soil of loyalty." The tombstone is carved with deer, cranes, kylins, and roc birds on both sides, with "double dragons" on the left and "two phoenixes" on the right, and 8 stone lions on the pillars. The Tomb of Ge Yunfei is an important base for patriotic education. In 1961, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province declared it a provincial cultural relic protection unit. Ge Yunfei (1789–1841), courtesy name Pengqi, Lingtai, and Yutian, was a native of Tianle Township, Shanyin, Zhejiang (now Butou Village, Jinhua Town, Xiaoshan District). In 1819, the 24th year of the Jiaqing reign, he passed the martial arts examination. During the Daoguang reign, he passed the martial arts examination. In 1838, the 18th year of the Daoguang reign, he was appointed as the general of Dinghai Town, Zhejiang. In July 1840, British warships invaded Zhoushan, occupied Dinghai, looted property, raped women, and killed civilians. In the face of national crisis, Ge Yunfei was appointed as the general of Dinghai Town, proposed the "Twelve Strategies to Destroy the Barbarians," and actively arranged defenses. On September 26, 1841, the British general Pottinger led 29 warships and more than 20,000 soldiers to invade Dinghai again. Ge Yunfei, together with Wang Xipeng, the general of Shouchun Town, and Zheng Guohong, the general of Chuzhou Town, led their troops to defend the earth city, Zhushan Gate, and Xiaofeng Ridge, and fought bravely against the enemy. Ge Yunfei's troops were stationed at the front line of the earth city, responsible for frontal defense and coordinating the command of the three armies. He led by example, guarding the front line day and night, personally lighting cannons, breaking the masts of British ships, and firing the first shot in the defense of Dinghai. The three generals of Dinghai led their troops in fierce battles for six days and nights, repelling the British army's attacks time and again. However, due to the lack of external support, they suffered heavy casualties. Wang Xipeng died heroically in battle, Zheng Guohong was seriously injured and died for his country, and Xiaofeng Ridge and Zhushan Gate fell one after another. Ge Yunfei was besieged on all sides. Facing the approaching enemy, he led 200 soldiers with knives to fight at Zhushan Gate, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, killed several enemies, suffered 40 wounds, and fell off a cliff to his death.