In 1927, a military coup was launched by Nationalist Party leader Chiang Kai-Shek.

Known as the "April 12th Purge" or the "Shanghai Massacre," it diminished the size of the Communist Party.

The event was a pivotal moment during the Chinese Revolution, which ended the First United Front between the Nationalists and the Communist Party.

Tens of thousands of Chinese Communists were arrested and murdered. Only 1,519 bodies were identified. The rest remained nameless.

The Communist Party decreased from 60,000 members to 10,000.

Yuhuatai District was the site for the executions and burials and is located near the headquarters of the Nationalist Party in Nanjing.

Among a group of martyrs who were murdered at Yuhuatai was an underground intelligence operative named Lu Zhiying.

Lu Zhiying delivered valuable information to the Communist Party and was "a wanted man" by the Nationalists.

When Lu Zhiying was betrayed by traitors, the Nationalist Party arrested and tortured him.

During his final days, he wrote poems in prison about the spirit of the revolution.

In 1958, artist Fu Baoshi painted the "Yuhuatai Memorial" in remembrance of those who perished during the revolution.

It serves as an inspiration to the mission of the Communist Party of China and encourages people to forge ahead.

Check out The China Report, our new weekly newsletter. Subscribe here!