Monument to the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China to Resist Japanese Aggression

Monument to the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China to Resist Japanese Aggression

The Monument to the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China to Resist Japanese Aggression is situated in the Wanding Forest Park. This monument was built on the 60th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. The people of all ethnic groups and sectors in Dehong Prefecture erected it to honor the courageous contributions of the overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics who returned to China to fight in the war, to recognize the historical achievements of overseas Chinese, and to promote the spirit of patriotism. It stands at the former endpoint of the China section of the Burma Road—Wanding—and was completed on December 20, 2005. The towering monument reaches into the clouds, exuding a powerful and majestic presence. It overlooks the Burma Road, with neighboring Myanmar directly opposite.

Climbing the steps leads to a square platform where a statue of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, a leader of the overseas Chinese community, has been erected by his descendants from overseas. Beneath a wreath carved from white marble are two sets of seven-step staircases, symbolizing the “July 7th Incident.”

The monument stands a total of 16 meters high. Its upper section features four golden horizontal bands representing the 400 million compatriots during the war. The Honor Medals of the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics are inlaid among them, signifying the unity of Chinese people at home and abroad in resisting the war. The wide black base, measuring 6 meters in width and 3 meters in height across three tiers, symbolizes the victory of September 3rd.

Behind the monument lies a bas-relief corridor chronicling the overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics’ return to China to fight in the war. On the right is the inscription plaque of the monument. The central bas-reliefs depict: the Call to Action, the Farewell, the Road-Building, the Iron Flow, the Trial by Fire, and the Victory. On the left is the Roll of Honor of the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics. Below the reliefs is the “Hundred Sparrows Painting,” symbolizing the beautiful land of Dehong, known as the “Land of Peacocks.” The six pillars at the front of the relief corridor represent the 60th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.

All materials used in the construction and carving of the monument are sourced from the world-renowned Fujian granite. The grand red structure of the monument soars into the sky, symbolizing the Chinese nation breaking through darkness and marching toward the light.

In July 1937, the “Marco Polo Bridge Incident” broke out, and Japanese invaders launched a full-scale war of aggression against China. In no time, vast swathes of territory were lost, countless lives were lost, and the nation teetered on the brink of peril. At that time, most of China’s overland and maritime routes connecting with the outside world had been cut off by the Japanese army. To reopen international transportation lines, over 200,000 people from western Yunnan, relying on their own provisions and tools, braved wind and sun, carrying loads and digging with hoes and picks, hacking through mountains and building roads, constructing bridges over rivers, and working day and night. With their flesh and blood, they completed the construction of the nearly 1,000-kilometer-long Burma Road by August 1938—a feat hailed as a “miracle in road-building history.” The Burma Road became China’s only vital transportation route to the outside world, allowing a continuous flow of international aid supplies to reach the frontline of the War of Resistance. As the war progressed, the volume of goods transported along the Burma Road increased sharply, leading to an acute shortage of drivers and maintenance personnel, creating urgent needs both at the front and rear.

In 1938, after the fall of Guangzhou, the Southwest Transport Administration in Kunming sent a telegram to Mr. Tan Kah Kee, Chairman of the South Seas Chinese Federation, requesting the recruitment of overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics to transport aid supplies from China via the Burma Road. Mr. Tan readily agreed. The Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics were a collective term for over 3,200 overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics who returned from Southeast Asia and other regions to support the resistance during the war. In 1939, under the call of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, Chairman of the “South Seas Chinese Federation’s Fundraising Committee for Refugee Relief in the Motherland,” more than 3,200 young overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia formed the “Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics Service Corps Returning to China to Resist the War.” They returned to China in nine batches.

In the face of national crisis, these 3,000 brave souls answered the call, dedicating their passionate hearts to serving the motherland. With their skilled techniques, resourcefulness, and courage, the overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics overcame numerous hardships and successfully accomplished their transport missions.

They traveled across Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Hunan, as well as Myanmar and India, providing logistical support for the war effort. The China-Myanmar border region, located on the frontier, was economically underdeveloped, with rugged terrain and harsh conditions. Yet the drivers and mechanics fearlessly faced danger, risking their lives, working day and night regardless of wind or rain, racing to transport military supplies and maintaining vehicles. Their efforts provided crucial support to the people’s resistance. During this time, under repeated bombings by Japanese warplanes, the ravages of tropical diseases, and frequent accidents, over 1,000 overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics sacrificed their young lives for the war effort, resting forever in the war-torn southwestern borderlands of the motherland. Over 1,000 returned to their home countries after the war’s end, and over 1,000 chose to remain in China to make their own way.

From the opening of the Burma Road in 1939 until its closure in May 1942 after the Japanese occupation of Myanmar, the majority of Allied aid supplies (including guns, ammunition, gasoline, etc.) transported to China were carried by overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics via the Burma Road, totaling 450,000 tons. Supplies from China to the Allies were also transported by the overseas Chinese drivers through Myanmar before being forwarded to the Allies. The overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics made outstanding contributions to the motherland’s resistance effort.

In 1940, during his visit to comfort the soldiers and civilians resisting the Japanese, Mr. Tan Kah Kee inspected the Burma Road twice and visited Wanding, forming deep bonds with the people there.

After Japan’s surrender in 1945, Mr. Tan Kah Kee safely returned to Singapore from Java. On November 18, ten groups in Chongqing held a “Celebration for Mr. Tan Kah Kee’s Safe Return.”

In recognition, Mao Zedong personally inscribed words of high praise for Mr. Tan Kah Kee’s selfless and heroic deeds, calling him the “Flag of the Overseas Chinese and Vanguard of the Nation.”

As time passes, the unwavering spirit of patriotism and dedication to the nation shown by overseas Chinese—“patriotism without regret, service to the country without complaint”—moves heaven and earth and touches the hearts of gods and spirits. It stands as a treasured part of our national spirit. Remembering our roots and reflecting on our journey, Mr. Lin Xiaochang, Chairman of Hengchang International Group Co., Ltd. and descendant of the overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics, donated 3.5 million RMB to build this monument in honor of his father’s patriotic spirit. The People’s Government of Dehong Prefecture specially erected a tablet to commemorate this, to honor the martyrs and inspire future generations. Today, as China rises, the borderlands stabilize, and the economy prospers, the great tasks of national reunification and rejuvenation remain long and arduous, requiring even greater efforts from Chinese people at home and abroad. The construction of this monument adds a new landmark to the peaceful town of Wanding—a border town, a town of wartime significance, a cultural hub, and a heroic small city.

The inscription on the monument to the “Monument to the Overseas Chinese Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China to Resist Japanese Aggression” in Wanding was penned by Mr. Qi Gong, a renowned educator, classical literature scholar, calligrapher, and cultural relics appraiser in China, and a descendant of Prince Hongzhi, the fifth son of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty.

The green mountains stand in reverence to the heroes’ aspirations, and the emerald cypresses console the loyal souls. The spirit of China, the light of the overseas Chinese—leaving behind Tan Kah Kee’s eternal monument. For the victory of the War of Resistance, the overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics in western Yunnan made great sacrifices for the nation.

The monument is a grand spiritual landmark, a towering tribute in the hearts of the people of Wanding. The “Monument to the Overseas Chinese Returning to China to Resist the War” will stand forever with Wanding, with the green mountains, with China, and will be immortal.

Wanding Town: The Wanding Economic Development Zone is located in the western part of Yunnan Province, in the southern part of the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, separated from Myanmar by a river and facing the northern Myanmar town of Ruili across the water. Covering a total area of 103 square kilometers with a 28.646-kilometer border line, it sits at the endpoint of National Highway 320 and serves as the overland gateway from China to Myanmar and Southeast Asian countries, classified as a national first-class port. The area is home to over 12,000 people from 15 ethnic groups, including Dai, Jingpo, De’ang, and Han. Wanding boasts a unique geographical location, superior climate conditions, and beautiful natural scenery. The average elevation is 830 meters, and it has a subtropical monsoon... More detailed information about Wanding Town++