Beijing Museums: Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
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中国人民抗日战争纪念馆
Anne Lin
Touted by the Chinese as the 'only large-sized comprehensive memorial for this special topic in China', this war museum was built with the mission of documenting China's version of World War II history between the period from 1931 to 1945, with a particular focus, as the name suggests, on the anti-Japanese resistance efforts.
Indeed the intention to build such a grand modern memorial was already being planned two decades ago, with the exact title of the museum even being personally inscribed by the former Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping in 1987.
The museum is located in Wanping City in the Fengtai district (丰台区) beyond the Fifth Ring Road. Wanping City was previously known as Gongbei and Gongji City, and was first built in 1638 to help protect Beijing. It is also perhaps no coincidence that the museum sits right next to another historical monument, the Marco Polo Bridge (卢沟桥), the site where the historical July 7, 1937 "Marco Polo Bridge Incident" occurred. The bridge incident is said to be the first recorded site of Chinese resistance.
One note of advice is to make sure you are not wearing any thongs, sandals or flip flops as there is a strict dress code, which especially applies to footwear. On a summer's day, this restriction on footwear can seem so absurd, and in our case, wearing the very unfashionable socks and thongs combination seemed to do the trick to grant us entry. Don't forget that identification is also required to register for entry (e.g. passport, foreign driver's licence, student id can all be accepted).
Entering the museum, you will be greeted by a larger-than-life wall sculpture featuring a collective of serious-faced citizens, standing strong in solidarity and united by the common cause of fighting the Japanese. This pretty much sets the tone of the museum, a place that honours China's martyrs and heroic sacrifices in 'opposing fascism', and the events that gave birth for the foundation of modern China.
Visitors with a decent level of Chinese would have no problem understanding the accompanying displays and explanations, as there are hardly any English translations. However, you can choose to put down a deposit to rent their English audio tour to guide you through.
You will be pleasantly surprised to see how clean and contemporary this special museum is, and history buffs will enjoy seeing this vast collection of material; the museum houses over 3800 photographs, as well as 5000 cultural relics and artifacts. There are timelines, interactive maps, songs, media clippings including cartoons, and even a really entertaining hologram-effect diorama showing villagers using their wits to resist the Japanese.
The series of grainy, enlarged black and white photos documenting the historical events in Nanking is perhaps one of the more emotive and shocking collection of images in the museum. Displayed alongside the various equipment used for torture not only highlights but for the brutality of the conditions that Chinese suffered during Japanese occupation.
Towards the end of the tour, the museum marks some of the latest achievements of modern China from the eighties and nineties. The museum not only succeeds in demonstrating the undying tenacity and nationalistic commitment of the Chinese during this period of history, it also hints that perhaps this steely nationalist fervour is a quality that has and will continue for evermore to be a shared ideal that shapes the identity of all Chinese people. Lastly, the concluding remarks reiterate China's commitment for modernisation, improving international relations and finally world peace.
Don't forget to head outside the museum and check out the War of Resistance Square and 'Stone Drum Park' sculpture memorial garden, both located directly in front of the museum. Opened on July 7, 2003, the square and garden spans a combined total area of over 85,000 square metres. It is in here that you will find 38 bronze sculpture pillars towering at 4.3 metres high. As well, a lion standing in the centre is meant to 'symbolise the awakening of the Chinese people'. The neatly groomed garden also features a variety of Chinese pines and other plant species alongside strategically scattered stone boulder drum replicas inscribed with calligraphy.
While you are in the area, it is also good to take a short wander around to the Marco Polo Bridge that is built from white marble and crosses over the Yongding River. First constructed in 1189, it is recognised as a protected national cultural relic and measures 235 metres long.
The bridge is said to be a strategic point to the centre of Beijing from the west, and is decorated with uniquely carved miniature lion heads in various poses. It's Chinese name is the Luguo Bridge but in English it is called the Marco Polo Bridge, after the explorer who wrote about the bridge in his travels. Entry costs to walk across the bridge vary (adult 20RMB, concession 10RMB).
Opening Hours
Museum: 9-4.30pm (no admission after 4pm) Closed on Mondays, Public Holidays.
Marco Polo Bridge: 9-4.30pm, no admission after 4pm.
Museum Ticket Price
Adult 15RMB / Undergraduate and postgraduate students 8RMB / free for primary and middle school students, senior citizens over 60, government staff, and people with injury or disability. The sign also says that 60 free tickets are also given out for each session and visitors should enquire within about this deal.
Free admission days: July7th , August 15th , September 3rd & 18th, December 13th and on National Defense Education Day.
Access
Bus: From Wukesong, you can take bus 748, 952, 983, 624 to the Kangzhan Diaosu Yuan stop (抗战雕塑院站).
From Liuliqiao, take bus 309, 339, 661, 662, 715, 937 to the Kangzhan Diaosu Yuan stop. Then it is just a short 5 minutes walk to the museum.
Car: Head towards the West Third or West Fourth Ring Road towards the Liuliqiao Bridge on the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Express and take the Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping Town exits to reach your destination.
Address: No 101, Chengneijie Street, Marco Polo Bridge, Fengtai 100165, Beijing
Telephone: 010-83891485
Website: www.1937china.org.cn
Text + images Anne Lin
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