Former Site of the "Two Bombs" City

Former Site of the "Two Bombs" City

The former site of the "Two Bombs" City is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic red tourism destination.

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City refers to the center where China developed cutting-edge national defense science and technology, specifically for the research and production of the "Two Bombs" (- and -).

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City was the place where efforts were made to elevate China's international standing, strengthen military power, and advance high-energy physics and thermal -.

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City was once a land of outstanding people nurtured by nature, where China’s top scientific talents gathered, and where national leaders devoted tremendous effort, attracting worldwide attention.

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City is located at the western foot of Changqing Mountain in Zitong County, Mianyang City, on the transitional zone from the Sichuan Basin to the surrounding mountainous areas. It covers an area of several square kilometers.

After the establishment of New China, following the recovery of the national economy, the introduction of the Party’s general line for the transition period, and the completion of the transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and capitalist industry and commerce, the transition to socialism was achieved, and socialist construction developed amid twists and turns. After May 1964, under the increasing military threats from the United States and the Soviet Union, the issue of preparing for war in economic work was placed high on the Party’s agenda, and large-scale Third Front (strategic rear area) construction began. To this end, the central government decided to adopt the principles of “halt,” “reduce,” “relocate,” “divide,” and “assist” for first- and second-front construction, effectively representing another major adjustment of the national economy.

The development of cutting-edge national defense science and technology had already begun under Nie Rongzhen’s leadership as early as 1958. In 1961, the central government made the major decision to accelerate national defense scientific research and industrial development with the focus on developing the "Two Bombs" (- and -). In November 1962, the central government established a special committee of fifteen members, headed by -, including Nie Rongzhen and Luo Ruiqing, responsible for organizing and leading the development of the two bombs. Mao Zedong instructed, “We must vigorously cooperate to accomplish this task.” - devoted tremendous effort to this. Through the hard work of scientists, PLA officers and soldiers, as well as employees and cadres of relevant departments, on October 16, 1964, China successfully detonated its first -. This achievement represented a new level of scientific and technological capability in China at the time. China’s self-reliant attainment of this remarkable feat effectively broke the nuclear monopoly and blackmail of the superpowers and elevated China’s international status. The Chinese government declared: China has always advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of -. China’s nuclear tests and development of - were purely for defense purposes, solely to protect the Chinese people from nuclear threats. The Chinese government solemnly announced that under no circumstances would China be the first to use -.

In accordance with this central policy, strategic decision, and deployment, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, the Party Central Committee carried out large-scale construction in the southwestern and northwestern regions from the perspective of war preparedness, aiming to establish a significant national strategic rear base with a focus on national defense science and technology industries. In 1964, the central leadership, based on Chairman Mao Zedong’s suggestion, formally decided to proceed with Third Front construction. Starting in the second half of 1964, large-scale Third Front construction commenced. The central government designated Sichuan as a key area for Third Front construction. Mianyang is located in the inland of China, with the Longmen Mountain range—deep and rugged—on its northwest edge. The terrain gradually descends southeastward, forming surrounding mountainous areas, which perfectly met the natural conditions of Third Front construction: being near mountains, dispersed, and hidden. The region’s 19 counties, with nearly ten million residents, had abundant labor resources. Additionally, the Baoji-Chengdu Railway passed through, and local road networks were developing, improving overall conditions. During the First and Second Five-Year Plans, a large number of major infrastructure projects had been arranged across Mianyang, laying a solid industrial foundation. Coupled with rich resources and a mild climate, it was an ideal location for Third Front construction. Zitong County, situated northeast of Mianyang, is mainly characterized by low mountains and hills, with low mountains covering 39.8% of the area, hills 45.3%, and flatlands 14.9%. Divided by the Tongkou River, the eastern part is dominated by deep hills with elevations around 800 meters, while the western part features hills generally between 500–600 meters. The Tongkou River valley consists of alluvial flatlands, scattered like strings of pearls, with open and flat terrain. The climate is subtropical, humid, and monsoonal, with mild weather, distinct seasons, ample sunshine, long frost-free periods, an average temperature of 16.5°C, and annual rainfall of 935.8 mm. The county has a forest coverage rate of 38%, lush vegetation, and diverse wildlife. Zitong has a long history, situated along the southern section of the ancient Jinsha Road and the "Ten-Thousand-Tree Corridor" of the Cuipingshan Path, part of the Jianmen Shudao (Jianmen Mountain Road). National Highway 108 runs through the county. It lies 2,048 km northeast of Beijing, 192 km southwest of Chengdu (the provincial capital), 47 km from downtown Mianyang, and 57 km west of Xiaoxiba Railway Station on the Baoji-Chengdu Railway. The county spans over 1,400 square kilometers with a population of over 320,000 at the time, making it one of the ideal locations for Third Front construction.

In May 1965, the central government approved the construction of a scientific research base for the China Academy of Engineering Physics in Mianyang. After surveying and site selection, 15 projects were distributed across Anxian, Zitong, and Jiange. The academy’s headquarters was designated to be in Zitong. From the second half of 1965, design institutes and other units of the State-owned Dawn Machinery Company (the predecessor of the China Academy of Engineering Physics) successively relocated from Qinghai to Zitong, beginning surveys and designs. Along with the move of the Dawn Company (then also called the Ninth Academy), the People’s Liberation Army’s field engineering troops and internal security - troops such as 8040, 8342, 7983, and 0056, as well as major construction companies like the 23rd and 24th Companies of the Ministry of Nuclear Industry, also moved into Zitong. They built factories, constructed roads, erected bridges, and unfolded a massive Third Front construction battlefield across the county. The people of Zitong warmly welcomed the Third Front construction army, offering houses, land, vegetables, sieved sand and stones, fired bricks and tiles, quarried rocks, repaired bridges and roads, and provided security, supporting the construction effort in every possible way. The county established a “Support Heavy Duty Office” dedicated to coordinating support for Third Front construction to ensure smooth progress.

The launch of Third Front construction in Zitong, especially the large-scale deployment and rapid establishment of the China Academy of Engineering Physics headquarters and its various research institutes in Zitong, created a golden opportunity for the county’s economic and social development, bringing great benefits to its people. Transportation, water supply, electricity, urban development, living standards, and more saw significant improvement.

With the China Academy of Engineering Physics stationed in Zitong, national leaders frequently visited. In particular, Deng Jiaxian, a key figure in the development of the "Two Bombs," worked and lived in Zitong for a long time, and General Zhang Aiping, who oversaw the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, was also often stationed there. Zitong attracted many top national experts and elites in cutting-edge scientific research, adding a modern technological marvel to this ancient and beautiful land.

Later, with changes in the international and domestic situation, the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, and the easing of global arms races, to adapt to the development of productive forces and resolve issues such as compartmentalization, excessive dispersal, and long transportation lines, the focus shifted to centralized research, facilitating the transition from military to civilian products, boosting local socioeconomic development, and promoting urban-rural prosperity. Approved by the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and -, the headquarters and other bases of the China Academy of Engineering Physics (formerly known as the Ninth Nuclear Academy) were relocated from Baijiawan at the western foot of Changqing Mountain in Zitong to Zhoujiawan and Shenjiawan near the east bank of the Fujiang River in Youxian District, Mianyang City. A new research base was established here. Since the relocation plan was finalized in September 1983, the project was codenamed the “839 Project.” Subsequently, the new research base was gradually built and improved, while the old base gradually completed its historical mission. As the new base became operational, personnel from the original research institutions gradually withdrew from the Zitong site. Of the idle state-owned assets left behind, some were retained to accommodate retired employees of the former Ninth Academy, managed by the academy itself, while most of the remaining buildings and assets were transferred to the Zitong County State-owned Assets Management Department.

Today, although the research base of the China Academy of Engineering Physics (formerly the Ninth Nuclear Academy) has been moved to Mianyang, the former site of the "Two Bombs" City remains as a witness to China’s development of cutting-edge national defense science and technology, preserved as a historical legacy and foundational part of the nation’s achievements in this field. The deep friendship forged between the former Ninth Academy staff and the people of Zitong lives on. The people of Zitong will forever remember the more than twenty years the Ninth Academy spent in their city. Deng Jiaxian’s former office, the residences of Deng Jiaxian and other scientists, the generals’ building where General Zhang Aiping and other leaders stayed—all still stand proudly. The plants and trees of the "Two Bombs" City thrive, birds chirp and soar in the peaceful skies, and laughter and songs fill the air under blue skies and white clouds...

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City is an indelible red memory.

The former site of China's "Two Bombs" City is an excellent destination for red tourism and patriotic education for young people and the public alike.