Exploring the revolutionary history in the air raid shelter of Jianchuan Museum

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- In the built-up Jiefangbei Business Area, the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre is “watching” the heavy traffic day after day, and it seems to have long been used to “telling in silence”. As an important historical scene recording the atrocious crimes of Japanese militarism, the underground air raid shelters have never been seen due to various reasons for 80 years.

The reporter recently learned from the Office of Civil Air Defense of Chongqing that the air raid shelter at the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre would be opened to the public for the first time in July this year after protective repair and upgrading.

It is understood that at the end of 2018, according to the overall deployment of Chongqing Municipal Committee and Government, Chongqing Municipal Civil Air Defense Department launched the Special Action of the “Mountain City Cave” Civil Air Defense Project of Serving People’s Livelihood. Today, the first batch of demonstration projects, including the air raid shelter at the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre, have been completed one after another in Yuzhong Peninsula. These air raid shelters in Chongqing people’s memory are becoming a new carrier for “activating” historical resources and inheriting the context of the city in the process of urban transformation.

The air raid shelter at the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre to be opened to the citizen

“Historical Cave” making air defense history “live”

From February 18, 1938 to August 23, 1943, Japanese militarism bombed Chongqing, the wartime capital of China, for five and a half years, in a vain attempt to achieve a “forced surrender by bombing”.

The site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre, namely the site of Tunnel Massacre that shocked China and foreign countries in 1941, was listed as a municipal cultural relics protection site in 1987. It is a powerful witness to the major historical events of Anti-Japanese War and World Anti-Fascist War, recording the brutal crimes of Japanese militarism, and witnessing the fighting spirit of perseverance and “becoming stronger in bombing” of Chongqing people.

According to the relevant person in charge of the Office of Civil Air Defense of Chongqing, the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre included three storeys; among them, the air raid shelter on Floor-2 re-showed the scene of Big Tunnel Massacre during Chongqing Bombing with figure scene sculpture, film and television art, combining with techniques such as the actual sound, light and shadow effects, in memory of the victims in Chongqing Bombing.

The “Historical Cave”, represented by the air raid shelter project of the site of Chongqing Bombing Massacre, was an important part of the Special Action of Chongqing Municipal Civil Air Defense Project of Serving People’s Livelihood. In recent years, the Office of Civil Air Defense of Chongqing has fully protected, studied and made good use of the historical and red resources of air raid shelters in Chongqing, making the history of air raid shelter “live” -- 

Chongqing Civil Air Defense History Exhibition Hall, located under Egongyan Bridge and relied on Chongqing Jianchuan Museum, the first cave museum settlement in China, has attracted tourists from far and near. The Air Defense Cave Cultural Exhibition Project in “Shibati Traditional Scenic Area” is also under construction, and it is expected to open simultaneously with Shibati. At that time, tourists would feel Chongqing memory through “time tunnel” and the real production and life in air raid shelter during the Anti-Japanese War.

“Cultural Cave” exporting new cultural experience

Hutouyan Park in Jingwei Avenue, Yuzhong District, is the commanding point of Yuzhong Peninsula. The underground military fortification built 100 years ago during the tangled warfare of Northern Warlords, has become the Propaganda and Education Hall of Chongqing Municipal Civil Air Defense.

It is reported that the Propaganda and Education Hall has realized experiential education and teaching by exploring the history of underground military fortresses and creating real training scenes.

“Here, citizens can learn air defense knowledge and protection skills to improve their ability to cope with disasters and enhance their sense of security,” the person in charge of the Propaganda and Education Hall told the reporter.

In Chongqing, there will be more than one civil air defense facility themed on “Cultural Cave”.

It is understood that the cultural and creative project of Shenxian Cave Civil Air Defense Project at the foot of Pipa Mountain has been completed hazard elimination and rectification, and the operator is about to enter the site for construction. In the future, it would become a music theater. While “611 Treasury” located on Yingbin Avenue from Liangkou to Daping in Yuzhong District, has been completed the investment invitation as well as signing and entered design and construction stage. The operator would build it into a new consumer hotel with immersive performance as the core. Through the new consumption scenes such as Jinku Hotel and Jinku Bar, it could bring a refreshing consumption experience for citizens and tourists.

Upgrading “Shenxian Cave” at the foot of Pipa Mountain

“Living Cave” empowering urban functions

At the middle of Daijiaxiang Cliff Footpath in Yuzhong District, a pedestrian access project of air raid shelter is under intense construction. The air raid shelter, located on the west side of the cliff of Hongyadong, whose caves have an average height of 3 meters, and a width of 3 to 4 meters, was the “throat” connecting Hongyadong, Daijiaxiang Cliff Footpath, Cangbai Road and Jialingjiang Road.

“At the beginning of this year, we learned suggestions from many citizens and tourists, and they hoped to open the air raid shelter for rest and sightseeing.” The relevant person in charge of the Office of Civil Air Defense of Chongqing said. The Office organized the investigation and research at the first time and decided to implement the pedestrian access project of air raid shelter.

At present, the project has been completed the hazard elimination and rectification, the operator is about to enter the site for construction, and it is expected to be completed and opened by the end of this year. At that time, it will not only play a positive role in expanding Hongyadong Scenic Area and connecting the upper and lower parts of the city, but also bring new experience to residents and tourists. (Translated by Zhang Ying, Fathom Language Limited)