Former Site of the Japanese Army’s Prisoner-of-War Camp in Zhangdian during the War of Resistance Against Japan

Former Site of the Japanese Army’s Prisoner-of-War Camp in Zhangdian

The former site of the Japanese Army’s prisoner-of-war camp in Zhangdian is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The former site of the Japanese Army’s prisoner-of-war camp in Zhangdian is located in Heping Subdistrict, Zhangdian District, Zibo City, dating back to the Republic of China era.

The “Former Site of the Japanese Army’s Prisoner-of-War Camp in Zhangdian” is located to the north of Xiyi Road and Xincun Road in Zhangdian District, near the Zhangdian District Housing Management Bureau. Originally known as the Modern Architecture — Republican-Era Residential Building on Xiyi Road in Zhangdian, it is a two-story building with a gatehouse, a modern structure. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Japanese army used this site as a prisoner-of-war camp. In September 2008, the building was included in the first batch of protected lists of ancient buildings, outstanding modern architecture, and commemorative structures published by the Zibo Municipal People's Government. In 2010, it became a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit, and in 2015, it was upgraded to a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit and renamed the “Former Site of the Japanese Army’s Prisoner-of-War Camp in Zhangdian.”

According to records, during the war, the Japanese army stationed a brigade in the Zhangdian area. Chinese soldiers and civilians captured or rounded up during “mopping-up” operations were all sent to Zhangdian, where a prisoner-of-war camp was established. The Zhangdian camp, also called the Zhangdian Prisoner Collection Center, was located on the original Erma Road in Zhangdian, now at No. 86 Xiyi Road, Zhangdian District. This site was originally a cotton trading firm owned by a merchant surnamed Geng from Huantai County (then known as “Xiangji Cotton Warehouse”). After the Japanese occupation, it was turned into barracks for the Asia Development Anti-Communist Corps. The compound was large — the west side had a two-story building with 13 rooms on each floor, and the southernmost room on the ground floor served as the main gate opening westward onto Erma Road. The northern, southern, and eastern rooms were originally large warehouses for storing cotton but were later converted by the Japanese into prison cells for holding prisoners of war. Before liberation, a state-run salt company had temporarily been based here.

In 1961, the Zibo Daily newspaper moved from Boshan to Zhangdian, and the Zhangdian Printing Factory merged into the printing plant of the Zibo Daily. Later, when the newspaper moved to a new location, the site was used as staff dormitories for the newspaper and printing factory workers. In April 2004, the security office of the Shangchang Police Station under the Zhangdian Public Security Sub-bureau temporarily resided here. In 2005, when the Kaiyuan Cultural Market built commercial buildings, the antique market was briefly relocated to this street. After 2006, it became a residential building.

On June 23, 2015, the former site of the Japanese Army’s prisoner-of-war camp in Zhangdian was announced by the People’s Government of Shandong Province as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units in Shandong.

Heping Subdistrict: Established on December 28, 1995, Heping Subdistrict of Zhangdian District covers an area of 2.94 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 46,000 and a floating population of over 20,000. It has 10 neighborhood committees and hosts more than 140 resident government agencies, enterprises, and institutions, making it one of the busiest areas in downtown Zibo. In recent years, leveraging its locational advantages, Heping Subdistrict has pursued a path of scientific and sustainable development, focusing on tertiary service industries. It has harnessed the radiating influence of hubs such as the Oriental Furniture City, Luzhong Furniture City, Yinzuo Home Furnishings, and Jixing Decoration Materials City... More details about Heping Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Shandong Province