Yang Suxiang sweeps the tombstone of her son Wang Zhuoran, a martyr sacrificed in the China-India border clash in June 2020, with a towel in Luohe, Central China's Henan Province on Saturday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

April 4 marked the first Tomb-sweeping Day after four People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers were sacrificed in the China-India border clash in June 2020. Chinese people all across China paid their respects to the four martyrs by visiting their tombs, sending flowers, and even sending their favorite foods.

In June 2020, Chen Hongjun, Xiao Siyuan, Chen Xiangrong, and Wang Zhuoran, members of a border defense regiment under the PLA, were sacrificed in a border conflict with Indian troops at Galwan Valley. 

The Central Military Commission awarded Chen Hongjun with the honorary title of "Hero to defend the border," and awarded first-class merits to Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan, and Wang Zhuoran. 

This is the first Qingming Festival after the sacrifice of these martyrs. People in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province, Ningde, East China's Fujian Province, Xinxiang and Luohe, Central China's Henan Province held commemorative ceremonies at the local martyrs' cemeteries. The Global Times reporters went to Luohe to commemorate martyr Wang Zhuoran on Saturday ahead of the Qingming Festival.

Wang Zhuoran's mother, Yang Suxiang, 51, swept Wang's tombstone with a towel, took out apples, cakes, and boxes of drinks, and opened the packages before placing them in front of the tombstone. Streams of local students, police, residents, and villagers from Wang's home village, also gathered at the square of the cemetery early Saturday to pay their respects to Wang.  

Xiao Siyuan's tomb in Xinxiang was adorned with bouquets, many of which were ordered online by netizens from all over the country.

Flowers and cards were placed in front of the portrait of martyr Chen Xiangrong in Pingnan County, Ningde. One tear-jerking tribute read: "If I had my next life, sister would take care of you." People brought Chen's favorite fruit - oranges - to commemorate him. 

The family of martyr Chen Hongjun visited his cemetery in Lanzhou on Saturday. His mother took beef noodles, cake, fried chicken, urging her son to "eat slowly, my child," a typical phrase used by mothers in China to express their love and tenderness for their children. 

Chen's wife took their son who was only a few months old to visit Chen. When Chen died, his wife was still pregnant, and this was the first time the child "met" his father.

Thousands of Chinese netizens also commemorated the martyrs online, appreciating them safeguarding the country and sacrificing themselves for the sake of others.

Relatives and locals gather at the cemetery square where Wang Zhuoran is buried in Luohe, Central China's Henan Province early Saturday to commemorate him. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Wang Zhuoran's mother Yang Suxiang touches the face of her son's statue in the martyrs' memorial. Photo: Li Hao/GT

The ashes of martyr Chen Xiangrong are buried in Pingnan Martyrs Cemetery, East China's Fujian Province, and flowers cover the front of the martyrs' monument. Photo: VCG

Students commemorate martyr Xiao Siyuan at the Yanjin Martyrs Cemetery in Xinxiang, Central China's Henan Province on Sunday, China's traditional Tomb-sweeping Day. Photo: VCG

Take-away deliveryman Zhou Xiaorong presents flowers to martyr Chen Hongjun on behalf of netizens at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province. Photo: Xinhua