Rizhao City Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

Rizhao City Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

The Rizhao City Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall is a large-scale comprehensive thematic museum dedicated to comprehensively recording the historical facts of the Anti-Japanese War, commemorating the great Chinese people’s war of resistance, promoting the spirit of the resistance, and providing peace education. Located on Bihai Road, Shanhaitian, Rizhao City, Shandong Province, it comprises the Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, the Red Culture Exhibition Hall, the Ancient Folk Museum, and the Historical Coins Exhibition Hall, making it the first comprehensive physical exhibition museum in Shandong Province.

I. The Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, consisting of the “Prelude Hall,” “War of Resistance Process Hall,” “Atrocities of the Japanese Army Hall,” “Armed Struggle Hall,” “Victory in the War of Resistance Hall,” “Looking to the Future Hall,” and “Interactive Audiovisual Hall,” is the most comprehensive and authoritative platform for displaying the history of the war of resistance in Rizhao to date. The historical artifacts exhibited primarily include various historical documents and related objects from the war period between 1931 and 1945. It also houses a collection of cultural relics related to Japan’s invasion and occupation of Taiwan since 1874, covering military, political, economic, cultural, and social categories, with over 4,000 war-related artifacts on display. These include the deeds and remains of Rizhao’s heroes during the war, physical evidence of Japanese atrocities in the Rizhao area, and details about the political, economic, and cultural development of the Rizhao anti-Japanese base areas. It objectively reflects the history of how the Rizhao region, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, carried out the war of resistance and ultimately achieved victory.

II. The Red Culture Exhibition Hall focuses on the history of the Chinese Communist Party leading the Chinese people in revolution and construction before the reform and opening up. Centered around physical materials, supplemented by images, photos, and historical documents, the exhibition is divided into sections such as Red Power, Red Footprints, Red Journey, and Red Figures, and features a distinctive red culture mirror wall. Among the exhibits, over 800 items reflect the revolutionary, working, and personal life of the great leader Comrade Mao Zedong. Guided by the latest academic research findings and concepts, this exhibition objectively presents the magnificent history of the Communist Party-led revolutionary war years and the early years of the founding of the People’s Republic, filling a gap in this field in our city.

III. The Ancient Folk Museum, organized along the axis of historical development, showcases a collection of ancient and modern folk artifacts from Rizhao City. These include ancient production tools, daily necessities, mainly pottery from the Longshan Culture and ancient wooden ware, as well as some rare modern items, such as a sewing machine gifted by Emperor Puyi to his favorite concubine, plaques inscribed by successful imperial examination candidates, Hanlin scholars, and top imperial examinees. These items hold certain historical research value, representing the level of social development in different periods, and objectively reflecting the evolution of ancient Chinese history. They serve as a microcosm of society and family life.

IV. The Historical Coins Exhibition Hall displays the “Series of Chinese Historical Currencies,” including the earliest shell money, spade money, ghost-face money, as well as copper coins from various dynasties, silver notes from the Qing Dynasty, and paper money from the Republic of China, totaling more than 1,500 pieces, among which over 1,000 are part of complete sets. Each small coin showcases the socio-economic conditions, casting technology, arts and crafts, evolution of writing, calligraphy art, and other aspects of a specific historical period. They embody rich and profound cultural meanings, reflecting the social life and political changes of their time, and every change in currency system has invariably influenced the course of history.

Further Reading:

· National Third-Class Museum of China