Zhao Dengyu Memorial Hall

Zhao Dengyu Memorial Hall

The Zhao Dengyu Memorial Hall, established in 1995 with the approval of the former Heze Regional Party Committee and Administrative Office, is the only memorial hall in China dedicated to the renowned patriotic general and national hero General Zhao Dengyu. It is also one of the patriotic education bases in our province. The memorial hall consists of four sections, using a large number of detailed photographs, textual materials, artifacts, and artworks created in his honor to vividly recreate General Zhao Dengyu’s glorious image during different periods of his life. It celebrates the national integrity and heroic resistance against the Japanese invasion that he upheld throughout his life, reminding us of the tragic history of the Japanese imperialist aggression that brought immense suffering to the Chinese nation, as well as the painful lessons learned from how a weak and impoverished nation was bullied and ravaged.

General Zhao Dengyu, a famous anti-Japanese hero, was born on May 16, 1898, into a rural family in Zhaolou Village, Duzhuang Township, Heze City. From an early age, he was known for his strong will and upright character. At the age of 16, he joined the army under the patriotic general Feng Yuxiang, where he fought bandits and local tyrants, achieving remarkable military successes. Following the September 18th Incident, when Japanese imperialism invaded China’s three northeastern provinces and the nation faced existential crisis, on March 5, 1933, Zhao Dengyu was ordered to lead his troops to the front lines of the War of Resistance — the Great Wall’s Xifengkou Pass. There, he engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese invaders for over ten days, killing more than 4,000 enemy soldiers, which inspired the entire nation and elevated the prestige of the Chinese people. After this battle, Zhao Dengyu gained great renown and was promoted to division commander, stationed in the Beiping (Beijing) and Hejian areas. During the July 7th Lugou Bridge Incident in 1937, Zhao Dengyu was appointed as the frontline commander at Nanyuan under critical circumstances. He died a heroic death in battle against the Japanese on July 28 at the age of 39, fulfilling his vow that “to die on the battlefield for one’s country is a life without regret.” General Zhao Dengyu gave his life for the nation, and his sacrifice weighs heavier than Mount Tai. He is the pride of the Chinese nation and the people of Heze. His patriotism and heroic deeds will forever be respected and remembered by the Chinese people.