Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall

Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall

The Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Iron Man Memorial Hall is located at No. 8 Jiefang Second Street, Daqing City. It was newly built in 1989 on the former site of the "Exhibition Room of Heroic Deeds of Comrade Iron Man Wang Jinxi." The entire complex covers an area of 54,000 square meters, including 30,000 square meters of green space, with the main building having a floor area of 1,240 square meters. On the square platform in front of the main building, between two large lawns, stands a tall statue of Iron Man Wang Jinxi holding a drilling brake handle. Passing the statue and entering the exhibition hall, there are three open exhibition rooms displaying over 200 photographs and more than 300 precious artifacts, showcasing Iron Man’s major life experiences, his heroic achievements during the Daqing oil campaign, and how the people of Daqing have upheld the Iron Man spirit over the past 35 years.

The museum was constructed under the responsibility of the Drilling Command after the passing of Comrade Wang Jinxi on November 15, 1970. Initially, it was just a single-story brick building of about 500 square meters. The current scale was expanded in 1989 on the foundation of the former "Iron Man Deeds Exhibition Hall" and officially opened to the public on November 15, 1991, the 21st anniversary of Iron Man’s death. The entire structure symbolizes the iron will and indomitable spirit of Iron Man Wang Jinxi, and it won the National Excellent Architectural Design Award in 1999.

Wang Jinxi was originally from Yumen, Gansu Province. He joined the Yumen Oilfield in 1949 and was named a National Model Worker in September 1959. On March 19, 1960, Wang Jinxi led the 1205 Drilling Team from Yumen to Saertu to participate in the Daqing Oil Campaign. Upon arriving by train, as the equipment and drilling rigs had not yet arrived, he led his team in volunteering to unload cargo at the railway station. When the drilling rig arrived but lacked lifting equipment, he organized his team to manually pull and shoulder the 50–60 ton drilling rig off the train and transport it to the well site. They dug a shovel-shaped groove on flat ground, built a makeshift unloading platform, and lowered the rig off the truck before setting it up.

From the installation of the drilling rig to the completion of the first well, he worked continuously for seven days and nights without leaving the campaign site. When tired, he would take a nap on piles of drill pipes; when hungry, he would eat a few bites of cold flatbread he carried with him; when thirsty, he would drink some cold water. On May 1 of that year, while directing workers to lay down the derrick in preparation for drilling the second well, Wang Jinxi injured his foot when a drill pipe fell on it and fainted from the pain. When the second well reached a depth of 700 meters, signs of a blowout suddenly appeared. At that time, the well site had neither the heavy barite needed to suppress the blowout nor a mixer. To prevent the blowout, Wang Jinxi, without any mixing equipment, was the first to jump into the mud pit and stirred the mud with his own body for over two hours. The blowout was averted, but his entire body was burned with severe blisters from the caustic soda. He once said, “I’d rather live 20 years less, but we must take this oil field!” This simple statement inspired at least one or two generations. His hardworking spirit moved the local people. One elderly woman emotionally said, “Captain Wang is truly an Iron Man!” From then on, “Iron Man Wang Jinxi” became widely known across the Daqing Oilfield and later throughout China.

On the east side of the hall, there are inscribed stone tablets with calligraphy from Party and state leaders as well as notable figures from various fields. The profound content, diverse styles of calligraphy, and exquisite carving art leave an unforgettable impression.

Outdoors, there is also the “Iron Man Well No. 1,” the only site in Daqing listed in the "China Scenic Spots Dictionary." To the west of the “Iron Man” well stands a towering drilling tower that reaches into the clouds—a great spot for visitors to sightsee and take photos. During spring, summer, and autumn, the area is lush with trees and fresh air. In winter, the majestic drilling tower and the snow-covered memorial hall present a solemn and serene atmosphere, making it a place people linger in awe.

The memorial hall is not only a tourist attraction in Daqing but also an important site for understanding the history of the Daqing Oil Campaign and learning the Iron Man spirit. It has become one of China’s hundred key patriotic education bases.

In May 2013, the State Council (State Council Document [2013] No. 13) designated the Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.