Former site of China Radio International Power Plant selected as one of municipal cultural relics protection units in Chongqing

Old photos of the former site (File picture)

Clerestories on walls

Part of the former site

A fortification of stone walls and reinforced concrete beam frames

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The former site of China Radio International Power Plant with stone walls is located at No. 6, Xiatuwan, Tuwan Sub-district, under a big old Ficus virens. No matter how critical the situation was during the Anti-Japanese War, China Radio International didn’t stop transmitting information. The station has witnessed the development of China communication and broadcasting industry during the Anti-Japanese War, which has been selected in the third batch of municipal cultural relics protection units in Chongqing.

18 ventilation windows on stone walls

The reporter recently went to 6 Xiatuwan, Tuwan Sub-district to visit the eye-catching structure near Binjiang Road. “It is a fortification of stone walls and reinforced concrete beam frames.” The person in charge of Shapingba Cultural Relics Management Office said that there were 18 clerestories on the wall in total.

Chongqing had undergone the bombing over 5 years and a half during the Anti-Japanese War. The station survived from the city of dilapidated walls and bombs. “The old flue and escape way used before remain. The walls are 1.5m thick. To protect the radio station from Japanese bombing, the original building was built with a diagonal triangle roof, so that Japanese aircrafts would think it’s a house seen from the sky.” The person in charge of Shapingba Cultural Relics Management Office introduced that there was special equipment for avoiding bombs to puzzle Japanese aircrafts.

Origin of the title “Chongqing Frog”

Speaking of China Radio International, professor Feng Jian is the must mentioned person, who is a famous radio communication expert. During the Anti-Japanese War, he built the radio station, China Radio International, with 35 kilowatt shortwave in Chongqing with his team. He worked as the director in person. “Professor Feng Jian chose 4 sites for the radio station at that time.” The worker of History Museum of Chongqing University introduced that the headquarters was located at Shangqiangsi, with the sending station at Xiaolongkan, the reception station at Xietaizi and the power plant at Tuwan.

This radio station was also the first shortwave one built by China itself. On August 28th and September 3rd, 1938, the radio shortwave engine room and the power plant were bombed successively, causing great losses, which were bombed for many times afterwards. In order to protect the station, at the end of September 1940, machines in the station were moved to the underground, guaranteeing the constant information transmission. “No matter how critical the situation was, this station constructed by Feng Jian didn’t stop working. Though the enemy made careful bombing plans, the station still held the post to transmitting information.” The person in charge of Shapingba Cultural Relics Management Office said that it was called as “Chongqing Frog” by the Japanese for its unceasing work.

Broadcast the surrender of Japan 5 days in advance

When the attack on Pearl Harbor broke out, all radio stations of the Far East Anti-fascist Alliance were taken up by the Japanese. The China Radio International newly built in Chongqing became the only available shortwave radio station for them, where foreign reporters transmitted and broadcast news.

It’s said that on August 10th, 1945, the encouraging news about “Surrender of Japan” was conveyed by this radio station. On that day, the station received the news that the Japanese cabinet officially conveyed a request for unconditional surrender to the Chinese government through the government of Switzerland. That night, the announcers Pan Yongyuan and Jin Mai turned on a device and said that “All Chinese people, Japan have surrendered unconditionally.” on August 15th, 1945, Japan announced to surrender, and the voice of victory was conveyed to the world. (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)