Former Residence of the Chief of Staff of the China Theater Headquarters of the Allied Forces (Chongqing Stilwell Museum)

The Former Residence of the Chief of Staff of the China Theater Headquarters of the Allied Forces (Chongqing Stilwell Museum)

The Former Residence of the Chief of Staff of the China Theater Headquarters of the Allied Forces (Chongqing Stilwell Museum) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism destination.

The Former Residence of the Chief of Staff of the China Theater Headquarters of the Allied Forces (also known as the Chongqing Stilwell Museum) is located at No. 63 Jialingxin Road, Yuzhong District. Established in 1991, the museum originally covered an area of less than 500 square meters. It was formerly the residence of T. V. Soong, and from 1942 to 1944, it served as General Stilwell’s home. The museum is one of the important remnants of wartime Chongqing. It receives over 30,000 American visitors annually on average, symbolizing the shared fight and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples during the war, and serving as a vital channel for people-to-people diplomacy. In 2014, it became a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The basement level of the residence was where accompanying personnel lived and where military equipment was stored. It has now been transformed into several exhibition halls. Over 200 precious historical photographs, arranged chronologically, present six themes: “Stilwell and China,” “Fighting in India and Burma,” “The Flying Tigers,” “The Hump Airlift,” “The U.S. Army Observation Group in Yan’an,” and “Friendship Endures.” These exhibits record the indelible bond between General Stilwell and China. Here, we not only see his outstanding contributions in assisting the Chinese government and people in resisting Japanese fascist aggression but also witness the conflicts he had with Chiang Kai-shek due to his advocacy for equal aid to all Allied forces. We also learn of his deep respect for the Chinese Communist Party, which prioritized the greater good and actively resisted Japan.

Honors and Recognition

In March 2013, it was included in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council. The official plaque-unveiling ceremony was held on February 26, 2014. On June 26, 2014, a ceremony was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Stilwell's arrival in Chongqing.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units