September 3rd marks both the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War Victory Day. Seventy-nine years ago, the Chinese nation achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance. Today, we honor our ancestors by visiting Beijing's red revolutionary landmarks to pay tribute to that unwavering struggle.

The Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

The Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is the only large-scale, comprehensive museum in China dedicated to fully reflecting the history of the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression. It is located at Wanping City in Beijing's Fengtai District, near the Lugou Bridge, where the nationwide War of Resistance began with the "July 7th Incident."

The museum's main exhibition, titled "Great Victory, Historic Contribution," covers an area of 6,700 square meters and features 1,170 photographs and 2,834 artifacts. The theme of the exhibition is "Remember History, Honor the Martyrs, Cherish Peace, and Create the Future."

Address: No. 101, Chengneijie (St) Lugou Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing.

Opening Hours: The museum is closed every Monday. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with visiting hours from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The last entry is at 4:00 PM.

Extended Hours in September 2024: The museum will have extended hours on September 3rd (Tuesday), September 18th (Wednesday), and September 30th (Monday). On these days, the museum will be open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the last entry at 5:30 PM.

Lugou Bridge

Lugou Bridge, an ancient and crucial passageway near Beijing, is the oldest and longest eleven-arch stone bridge in northern China, with a history spanning over 800 years.

On the night of July 7, 1937, Japanese forces conducted a military exercise north of Lugou Bridge, near southwest Beijing. Using the pretext of a missing soldier, they demanded entry into Wanping City to search. When denied, they bombarded Wanping and attacked Lugou Bridge. The Chinese 29th Army stationed there fiercely resisted, marking the outbreak of the "Lugou Bridge Incident," also known as the "July 7th Incident," which ignited the nationwide resistance against Japanese aggression.

Wanping City

Wanping City holds a significant place in China's history of the Anti-Japanese War. Today, the ancient city's walls still bear the scars of the past, with visible bullet marks serving as enduring witnesses to that tumultuous era, much like the Lugou Bridge. The Wanping City shell crater site stands as a solemn reminder of the historic battles fought here.

Sculpture Garden of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War

The Sculpture Garden, covering 20 hectares, is located north of the Wanping City Wall, west of the historic Lugou Bridge, and south of the Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau Expressway. The garden features key landscapes, including the Monument to the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War, a series of sculpture groups, a sunken plaza, the Wanping City Wall, and green spaces. The sculpture area spans 22,500 square meters and is divided into four sections reflecting the stages of the Anti-Japanese War: "Invasion by Japanese Invaders," "Rising to Defend the Nation," "Flames of Resistance," and "Justice Prevails."

At the center of the sculpture group is a sunken plaza measuring 50 by 50 meters, symbolizing respect for the spirits of those who sacrificed their lives in the Anti-Japanese War. In the middle stands the Monument to the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War, a granite and bronze structure 15 meters high, 8 meters wide, and 6.6 meters thick, with the theme "Crushing the Invader's War Machine."

Lugou Bridge History Museum

Located at the eastern end of Lugou Bridge, across the road from the west gate of Wanping City, the Lugou Bridge History Museum is a traditional-style building with red walls and gray tiles, exuding a sense of solemnity and strength. After a comprehensive renovation in 2023, the museum now covers an area of 2,795.95 square meters, with a total building area of 982.64 square meters. It is a specialized museum dedicated to the history and culture of Lugou Bridge.

The museum is composed of five main exhibition halls focusing on history, craftsmanship, significant events, art, and culture. Additionally, there are four outdoor exhibition areas: the Famous Bridge Corridor, the Ancient Poetry Corridor, the Stele Forest, and the Real-Scene Exhibition Area.

Address: North side of the eastern end of Lugou Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing.

Opening Hours:

Lugou Bridge: Open daily from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM).

Lugou Bridge History Museum: Closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM).

Sculpture Garden of Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War: Closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM).

Pingbei Anti-Japanese Martyrs Memorial Park

The Pingbei Anti-Japanese Martyrs Memorial Park consists of a Martyrs Memorial, a Memorial Hall, and a Special Exhibition Hall. It is a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base, a National Key Protected Martyrs Memorial Site, and a National Anti-Japanese War Memorial Facility and Site.

The Memorial Hall has an exhibition area of 2,500 square meters, with an exhibition line extending 480 meters. The main exhibition displays the history of the Pingbei army and civilians resisting Japanese invasion from March 1933 to September 1945. The exhibition "Shining Example—Party Conduct and Clean Government Construction During the War of Resistance" showcases the efforts and achievements of the Communist Party of China in building clean governance during the war.

Address: Hanhaozhuang Village, Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing District, Beijing

Opening Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM)

Jiaozhuanghu Underground Tunnel Museum

The Jiaozhuanghu Underground Tunnel Museum, Beijing's only site focused on tunnels, is a "National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base," a "National Red Tourism Scenic Area," a "National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit," and a "National Anti-Japanese War Site."

In the museum's open square stands a unique statue of an Eighth Route Army soldier, crouched low with a determined gaze. This posture reflects the distinctive strategy of Jiaozhuanghu's military and civilians during the war, using hidden tunnels to combat the enemy.

The Jiaozhuanghu Underground Tunnel Museum is designed in the traditional northern Chinese courtyard style, with a predominant blue-gray color scheme. The tunnels available for visitors span 830 meters. The museum features relief sculptures of historical figures from the war and cross-sectional models of the tunnels. Through a combination of informative displays, real artifacts, and interactive experiences, the museum vividly portrays the courageous resistance of Jiaozhuanghu villagers during the Anti-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

Location: No. 38 Jiaozhuanghu Village, Longwantun Town, Shunyi District, Beijing

Visitor Notice: The museum is currently undergoing exhibit renovations and is temporarily closed. Please check the official "Jiaozhuanghu Underground Tunnel Museum" WeChat account for reopening updates.

December 9th Movement Memorial Site

The December 9th Movement erupted in December 1935. From 1936 to 1937, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, the Beiping Civilian Vanguard and the Beiping Student Union organized three military summer camps in Yingtaogou. These camps, attended by 500 to 600 young students, provided political education and military training, preparing many future leaders for the Anti-Japanese War.

The memorial site, located at the end of Yingtaogou in the National Botanical Garden, is nestled under a canopy of towering water cypress trees, creating a serene and cool environment. It features the December 9th Movement Memorial Pavilion, the "Defend North China" stone carving, thematic exhibitions, historical sculptures, and a Youth Service to the Nation Memorial Wall.

The December 9th Movement Memorial Pavilion, located in the National Botanical Garden (North Garden) in Haidian District, Beijing, consists of three triangular prism-shaped pavilions. This unique design symbolizes the tents used during the military summer camps of the December 9th Movement. The three prisms together form the character "众" (zhong), representing the unity and determination of the people to resist foreign aggression.

Address: National Botanical Garden (North Garden), Yingtaogou, Xiangshan Lu(Rd), Haidian District, Beijing

Opening Hours: March 16 to November 15, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:30 PM), closing at 9:00 PM

Pingxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

The Pingxi Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall is a municipal-level patriotism education base, consisting of the memorial hall itself and three cemeteries: the Pingxi Anti-Japanese Martyrs Cemetery, Pingxi Unknown Martyrs Cemetery, and Pingxi Martyrs Cemetery.

Following the Luochuan Conference in 1937, the Eighth Route Army established the first anti-Japanese base in Beiping—the Pingxi Anti-Japanese Base. Centered around Wuling Mountain, this base conducted anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare and simultaneously advanced in armed, political, economic, and party development, making it a key stronghold behind enemy lines in North China.

The memorial hall's main exhibition, titled "The Struggle of the Pingxi Anti-Japanese Base," is divided into eight sections. It features a total of 490 photographs, 332 artifacts, 9 oil paintings, and 12 reconstructed scenes.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Last entry at 3:30 PM)

Address: No. 8 Xizhuang Lu(Rd) intersection, Shidu Town, Fangshan District, Beijing

Translator: DING Hongwei

Reviewer: NIU Lihua