"September 5th" Massacre Memorial Hall

　　The Wanzhou "September 5th" Massacre Memorial Hall (hereinafter referred to as the Memorial Hall) was approved for establishment by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. It is the only memorial building in Wanzhou, Chongqing, that has received central government approval for construction. The hall's name was inscribed by former Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of National Defense, General Zhang Aiping. Its founder, Liu Shujin (see the "Founder Introduction" on this website).

　　The "September 5th" Massacre shocked China and the world, ranking as the first case of its kind globally. On September 5, 1926, British imperialism brazenly deployed three warships to bombard Wanzhou City without a formal declaration of war against China. In just two hours of savage shelling, a total of 5,000 Chinese people were killed — an average of one person every 1.44 seconds — an atrocity of unparalleled horror and a record in world history.

　　 The Memorial Hall: An Everlasting Textbook. The initiative to establish the innovative museum began in 1995, the 69th anniversary of the "September 5th" Massacre, with feasibility research conducted. On December 10 of the same year, the decision was made to apply for its establishment. With the support of the Party, government, propaganda department leaders, and friends dedicated to the public good of the "September 5th" cause, the project seized the historical opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the massacre. Riding the wave of reform and opening-up inspired by Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour speeches, it gained government approval on March 20, 1996. Firm in its commitment to innovation and overcoming numerous difficulties, exactly 70 years after the incident, the Memorial Hall was created from scratch under a brand-new system. It opened ceremoniously on September 5, 1996, with high-level fanfare. Over 1,000 guests from Nanjing, Chongqing, and local officials and residents attended the opening ceremony. All available leaders from the Wanzhou municipal and Longbao District Party, government, and military were present at the inauguration. The next day, on September 6, the front-page headline of the Wanzhou Daily hailed it as: "The Memorial Hall: An Everlasting Textbook," with the full text of the important speech given by Chen Guangguo, then Secretary of the Wanzhou Municipal (prefecture-level) CPC Committee, during the opening ceremony — titled "Never Forget National Humiliation, Strive for Self-Strengthening, Revitalize Our Wanzhou" — published in the same edition.

　　 The Memorial Hall is profound in meaning, invaluable, and influential worldwide. Its construction adhered to the laws of objective development, closely aligned with social context and its own realities, following a path of "from nothing to something, from simplicity to complexity, from weakness to strength, with a focus on internal development." Since its opening, it has spared no expense to rescue and collect over 30,000 items (including precious cultural relics). All exhibits primarily feature valuable artifacts, making it a large-scale museum with distinct thematic characteristics, deep historical and cultural roots, rich content, immense value, and global influence. It primarily commemorates the world's first case — the "September 5th" Massacre, while also commemorating the War of Resistance and Sister Jiang as secondary themes, supplemented by displays of national defense, military, and fire safety cultural artifacts. The Memorial Hall is committed to the path of "internal development-focused" growth, with the theme: "To achieve prosperity, we preserve the 'September 5th' Incident; for peace, we preserve war; for wisdom, we study cases; for the future, we remember history." The site has now expanded to ten locations: the "September 5th" Massacre Exhibition Hall, the "September 5th" Massacre Memorial Gate, the "September 5th" Massacre Memorial Monument, the "September 5th" Massacre "Zhenyuan Hall" (artifacts in place, under reconstruction), the "September 5th" Massacre Alarm Tower, the War of Resistance Exhibition Hall, the Sister Jiang Exhibition Hall, a MiG-19 fighter jet, a Military Exhibition Hall, and the Republican-era "?涠?挥谩?" (artifacts in place, under construction). The Memorial Hall influences both domestically and internationally. Its value continues to deepen, attracting numerous domestic and international visitors, serving as a crucial patriotic education base and enriching cultural experiences.

　　 The Memorial Hall is divided into three functional zones. The first is the front zone, centered around the "September 5th" Massacre Memorial Gate. Directly in front is the main entrance, accessible via steps from the mountain bay road. To the left is the parking lot and south gate, which leads directly to the highway. To the right is the customer service center (under preparation). The middle zone is the core scenic area, housing seven exhibit sites for paid visits. These include the "September 5th" Exhibition Hall, the War of Resistance Exhibition Hall, the Sister Jiang Exhibition Hall, the National Defense Education (MiG-19 Fighter Jet) Exhibition Area, the Military Museum Exhibition Hall, the Republican-era "?涠?挥谩?", and the "September 5th" Regulations. The rear zone is the "September 5th" Massacre Memorial Square and the Core Exhibition Building. It includes a memorial pavilion, a youth activity center, a multifunctional hall, a theater, and a viewing platform. The rear area is tranquil, serene, and serves as the main exit, with convenient transportation access.

　　 The Memorial Hall has received high praise and encouragement from the Party, government, and society. It has been designated as a national-level tourist attraction, listed by both the Chongqing Municipal Government and Wanzhou District Government as a key base for patriotic and national defense education, and is one of Chongqing’s "Red Memory" nine major commemorative venues. The Wanzhou District Committee of the CPC Chongqing Municipality commended it: "A good deed done for future generations and the development of Wanzhou." In 2012, the National Cultural Heritage Administration recognized the "September 5th" Memorial Hall as a museum with "significant" national impact. In 2015, the National Tourism Administration rated it as a "trusted" national tourist attraction.

　　 The Memorial Hall is located on the southwest side of Gao Sun Tang in the main urban area of Wanzhou, Chongqing’s second-largest city. It is about 350 meters in a straight line and over 1,000 meters by road from the city center at Gao Sun Tang. It lies within the Taibaiyan Natural Scenic Area, adjacent to Shanwan Park on the right and the Martyrs’ Cemetery on the left. The state-planned land area covers 11.5 mu.

　　Contact number: 58203104 58202212 (fax) Postal code: 404000

　　Address: No. 10 Lanchigou, Wanzhou District, Chongqing

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