Lushun Wanzhong Tomb

Lushun Wanzhong Tomb

Lushun Wanzhong Tomb is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The Lushun Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall, located on Jiusan Road in Lushunkou District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, was newly built on the 100th anniversary of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894 to commemorate the nearly 20,000 Chinese compatriots who were brutally slaughtered by the Japanese army during the war.

1. Composition of the Lushun Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall

The hall is mainly divided into a basic exhibition that includes four sections: "Lushunkou Before the First Sino-Japanese War," "The First Sino-Japanese War and the Fall of Lushunkou," "The Shocking Lushun Massacre," and "The Lushun Wanzhong Tomb." The entire exhibition truthfully reflects the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese invading forces during the First Sino-Japanese War, particularly the barbaric massacre in Lushun, serving as a constant reminder for people to remember history and never forget national humiliation.

2. Opening Hours of the Lushun Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall

Winter: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM (last entry at 3:00 PM), Summer: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM), closed all day every Tuesday (except national public holidays);

3. The First Sino-Japanese War

After the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, the Japanese army launched an attack on Lushunkou, a key military stronghold in southern Liaoning, and encountered brave resistance from Chinese patriotic soldiers and civilians. On November 21, Lushunkou fell to the Japanese army. Subsequently, the invaders carried out a bloody massacre over three nights and four days against the unarmed residents of Lushun, creating one of the most shocking and atrocious historical events in modern history—the Lushun Massacre. Over 20,000 Chinese lives were lost to the Japanese aggressors' swords. In 1895, Qing troops regained control of Lushunkou. After the massacre, in an attempt to cover up their crimes and destroy evidence, the Japanese forced the surviving residents to form a corpse-carrying team to gather and cremate the victims’ bodies. The ashes were buried at the eastern foot of Baiyu Mountain after more than ten days of burning. In November 1896, Qing soldiers erected a tombstone and built a tomb for the victims, naming it “Wanzhong Tomb” (Tomb of Ten Thousand Loyal Souls). In November 1948 and November 1994, the Wanzhong Tomb was renovated; in March 1971, an exhibition room was added behind the tomb. The newly renovated tomb complex includes the 2,000-square-meter Lushun Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall. The total area of the tomb park is 9,200 square meters. In front of the tomb, a three-room brick worship hall with a flush gable roof was rebuilt, with a plaque hanging on the door inscribed with the words "Never Forget." The tomb park is surrounded by lush pines and cypresses, giving it a solemn and respectful atmosphere.

In November 1896, after the Japanese army withdrew from Lushunkou, Gu Yuanxun, an official sent by the Qing government to take over the area, erected the first memorial stele here, personally inscribing the three large characters "Wanzhong Tomb" as a tribute. It was later repaired and had new steles erected in 1922 and 1948. The inscriptions on the back of the steles describe the atrocities committed by the Japanese army and the process of renovating the Wanzhong Tomb.

The year 1994 marked the 100th anniversary of the First Sino-Japanese War. To commemorate and honor the immortal spirits of a century ago, the Lushunkou District Committee and District Government mobilized the public to carry out a fourth renovation of the Wanzhong Tomb and build the “Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall,” which opened to the public in 1996. At that time, Li Peng, who was the Premier of the State Council, personally inscribed the name of the memorial hall. The Lushun Wanzhong Tomb Memorial Hall is located at the northern foot of the scenic Baiyu Mountain in Lushun, covering a total area of 10,000 square meters, including a 2,200-square-meter exhibition area. The exhibits are divided into four main parts: photographs, artifacts, documents, and the cemetery.

Location

Jiusan Road, Lushunkou District, Dalian, Liaoning Province

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level