Exhibition Room of Martyr Chen Jianjun's Deeds

Exhibition Room of Martyr Chen Jianjun's Deeds

The Exhibition Room of Martyr Chen Jianjun's Deeds is a patriotic education base.

The Exhibition Room of Martyr Chen Jianjun's Deeds is currently located within the Putuo District Fire Brigade at No. 2 Xiangxie Street, Donggang Subdistrict, Putuo District, Zhoushan City. It was originally situated at No. 217 Donghai Middle Road, Shenjiamen. Established to commemorate Chen Jianjun, the 22-year-old former squad leader of Combat Squad One of the Putuo District Fire Brigade who died a hero while fighting a fire, the construction of the exhibition room began in full in October 1998, it officially opened to the public in May 1999, and was relocated to its current site in October 2005. In May 2000, it was designated as a patriotic education base by the Spiritual Civilization Construction Office of the Putuo District Committee of the Communist Party of China. In December 2007, it was named a municipal-level patriotic education base by the Zhoushan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Zhoushan Municipal People's Government.

Reviewing the martyr’s ordinary yet short life: Chen Jianjun was born in August 1976 in Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province. He joined the army in December 1994 and was assigned to the Putuo Fire Brigade. He joined the Communist Party of China in June 1997. During his four years in the military, he was commended by the army 11 times and was awarded a Third-Class Merit once. In 1996, he was recognized as an Outstanding League Member of the Zhejiang Provincial Fire Forces. In June 1997, the Zhoushan Daily prominently featured Chen Jianjun as the “Lei Feng-style Excellent Squad Leader,” introducing his advanced deeds, which sparked considerable resonance through his speech tour as a model figure across the city's public security system.

On May 15, 1998, a major fire broke out on the ocean-going fishing vessel “Jiuyuan 820,” docked at the Lujiazhi Shipyard in Putuo District. Due to the complex structure of the vessel and the location of the fire in the bottom compartment, if the blaze was not brought under control promptly, the hull could have been deformed and rendered useless. Moreover, the large fuel tank in the vessel’s bottom compartment, exposed to prolonged high heat, posed an explosion risk that would have directly endangered both the firefighters and the shipyard. At this critical moment, Chen Jianjun stepped forward, fearlessly entering the compartment to locate the source of the fire. Battling intense radiant heat and toxic fumes, he fought the flames until he unfortunately sacrificed his life heroically. On June 16, 1998, the Ministry of Public Security approved him as a Revolutionary Martyr. On July 6, 1998, the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province posthumously honored him with the title of “People’s Guardian.” On September 23, 1998, then Minister of Public Security Jia Chunwang signed an order posthumously conferring upon him the title of “Firefighting Warrior” and awarded him the Second-Class Heroic Model Medal of the People’s Liberation Army.

Within the approximately 200-square-meter exhibition hall, artifacts on display include the police and firefighting uniforms worn by Martyr Chen Jianjun during his lifetime, repair tools he used, his study notes, as well as books, newspapers, audiovisual materials reflecting his deeds, and official documents, medals, and orders awarded by various organizations conferring honors and titles upon him. The exhibition features both text and imagery and is divided into ten sections including “Born for the People, Died for the People, Remembered by the People” and “Carrying Forward the Legacy, Growing Strong, Heroes Emerging in Succession, Advancing Fearlessly, Deep Bond Between Soldiers and Civilians, Braving Danger, and Special Care.”

Since its establishment and opening to the public, the Exhibition Room of Chen Jianjun’s Deeds has become a place for people to mourn the martyr and receive patriotic education. Major General Sun Lun, former director of the Fire Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, spoke highly after personally visiting the site: “Martyr Chen Jianjun is a hero of our forces and a role model for all firefighters nationwide. This exhibition room is very distinctive and serves as an excellent patriotic education base.” According to incomplete statistics, up to now, more than 60,000 visitors from all walks of life have come to the exhibition room. Some come specifically to mourn the martyr, while others visit on their party or league membership days to honor the hero.

Martyr Chen Jianjun’s short life was ordinary yet great. He devoted his youth and passion to the firefighting cause. The scene of the martyr fearlessly rushing into the raging fire, battling through flames, and composing a magnificent song of life with his own life has become an immortal monument. His moving and heroic deeds will forever be engraved in the hearts of the island’s people.

Donggang Subdistrict: The Donggang Subdistrict Office is a dispatched institution of the People’s Government of Putuo District. It was newly established in June 2001 when some township administrative regions were adjusted, based on the Donggang Economic Development Zone Management Committee, incorporating areas of Huluxiang Township and the Tangtou section of Shenjiamen Town. The subdistrict covers an area of 18.28 square kilometers, governs 7 administrative villages, 4 urban communities, and 2 fishery-agriculture communities. It has 555.3 mu of arable land, 430 mu of homestead consolidation area, 15,500 mu of forested land—including 9,050 mu of ecological conservation forest, 450 mu of national bond afforestation, and 247 mu of orchards... More details about Donggang Subdistrict++