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Posted on 2024-10-24 18:30

Located in the Fengtai District of Beijing, there is a historical city, that is, in the last century, July 7, 1937, the outbreak of the shocking Lugouqiao "July 7 Incident", which caused the Chinese garrison to rise up to resist, and fired the first shot of the War of Resistance against Japan of the city of Wanping. 2020, November 10, in a high and refreshing day in autumn, we With reverence and curiosity, we stepped into the ancient city of Wanping City, which carries a heavy history, to pursue that unforgettable history.

Outside the wall of Wanping City on a high autumn day (Photo: Jue Wang)

Tracing back the history, Wanping City, also known as Wanping County, is located on the Yongding River, east of Lugou Bridge, more than 100 meters away from the bridge, is a bridgehead fortress, was built in the thirteenth year of the Ming Dynasty (1640), called "Gongbei City", was renamed "Gongji City" in the Qing Dynasty, and was renamed "Gongjicheng" in the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928), and was renamed "Gongji City" in the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928). In 1928, it was renamed "Wanping City". During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Wanping City was a military-only acropolis.

Looking up at the Shunzhi Gate of Wanping City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

When you look up at the Shunzhi Gate, the eastern gate of Wanping Castle, you will be struck by its majestic grandeur. The gate is tall and sturdy, as if telling of its past splendor and steadfastness. When the sun shines on the gate, the ancient masonry exudes the light of the years, reminding people of the scene when soldiers were guarding here.

Introduction to Wanping City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

When you come to the Shunzhi Gate, you can see a bronze plaque introducing the history of "Wanping City" on the right side of the city wall. If you look closely, you can see the shocking craters on the city wall. These large and small, deep and shallow craters are the marks of history, recording the atrocities of the Japanese invasion of China. Gently touching the city wall, as if you can feel the war of that year's tragic and tragic. That a crater, as if a pair of eyes, witnessed the suffering and struggle of the Chinese nation.

Entering Wanping City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Passing through the Shunzhi Gate, you will officially enter the city of Wanping. Walking along the streets, the layout of the city's streets is neat and tidy, and the green stone road winds forward, lined with ancient buildings. Along the way, you pass by a series of pagodas and houses, such as Xiaoyue Pavilion, Peace Bookstore, Wanping No. 9, Wanping County Government Offices, and Aggregate Edge. Their flying eaves and arches, carved beams and paintings, although baptized by the years, can still be seen in the past exquisite.

Wanping County Yamen (Photo: Jue Wang)

Continuing on, you will come to the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall. This is also a must-see place when you come to Wanping City. The museum is also the only large-scale comprehensive thematic memorial museum in China that comprehensively reflects the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The collection of cultural relics totals 30,000 pieces/sets (as of the end of 2019) of which the first-grade collection amounts to more than 100 pieces/sets.

Taking a photo at the Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall (Photo: passerby)

The collection of cultural relics focuses on various historical documents and related objects during the Anti-Japanese War period from the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931) to the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), and also collects all kinds of cultural relics of Japan's invasion and occupation of Taiwan since the 13th year of the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi reign (1874), which cover military, political, economic, cultural, social and other historical sides.

Medal of Independence and Freedom (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

When I came to the front of the Memorial Hall and stepped onto the two sets of meaningful steps, a sense of respect came to my heart. The first set of 8 steps signifies 8 years of national resistance; the second set of 14 steps signifies 14 years of resistance. On the platform in the middle of these two sets of steps, the golden "Medal of Independence and Freedom" is engraved here, and next to it is written in Chinese and English "1937.7.7 Memorial Site for the General Outbreak of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression", which seems to be silently talking about that period of unforgettable history. history.

Relief "The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood" (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Walking into the Prologue of the Memorial Hall, the large relief "Great Wall of Flesh and Blood" is magnificent, and the lyrics of the national anthem "March of the Volunteer Army" are set on the wall. Many visitors stop here to stand upright, look serious and whispered, the impassioned melody echoed in the air, let a person's heart surging. Reliefs and lyrics echo each other, as opened a magnificent history of the book scroll, for people to open the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japan's magnificent scroll.

Walking into the exhibition hall of the Memorial Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Entering the exhibition hall, it is like traveling back to the era of war. Rusty swords and spears, words and newspaper slogans permeated with traces of history, and articles used by the martyrs of the war ...... a piece of cultural relics and a picture tell the story of the past, so that the history of the Chinese people's war of resistance is vividly presented in front of us.

Historical Photo Exhibition (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

From the "September 18th Incident" to the "July 7th Incident", the ambitions and atrocities of the Japanese invaders were shown to the fullest extent, as they burned, looted and pillaged their way through China, bringing heavy disasters to the Chinese people. And the Chinese army and people united under the banner of the anti-Japanese national united front and rose up to fight against the Japanese fascist invaders.

Oil painting of the Great Victory of Pingxingguan (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the exhibition, we saw the introduction of famous battles such as the Great Victory of Pingxingguan, the Battle of Taierzhuang and the Hundred Regiments War. Especially when I stood in front of a sculpture of "The Five Heroes of Wolf Tooth Mountain", its lifelike statue vividly showed the brave and fearless fighting spirit of the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, which made us deeply moved.

Statue of the Five Heroes of Wolf Tooth Mountain (Photo: Jue Wang)

It was these brave and fearless anti-Japanese soldiers who built the impregnable Great Wall with their flesh and blood, sacrificing their lives for the independence and dignity of the country. In those black-and-white photos, I saw the determined eyes of the soldiers, saw their figures on the battlefield bravely killing the enemy, as if I could hear their shouts and gunshots.

Statues of Zhao Dengyu and Tong Linge (Photo: Jue Wang)

Viewing the exhibition, the familiar and noble names of Yang Jingyu, Zhao Yiman, Zuoquan, Zhang Zizhong, Zhao Dengyu, and Tong Lincuo and their heroic deeds were moving. Here, I deeply felt the resilience and indomitable struggle spirit of the Chinese people.

Graphic Exhibition of the Nanjing Massacre (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In front of the historical photos and artifacts that record the crimes of the Japanese army, such as the Nanjing Massacre, the forced conscription of comfort women, and the bacteriological warfare of the 731st unit, people's hearts are overwhelmed with a heavy heart. The cruelty and tyranny of the Japanese invaders are heinous. These crimes are the eternal pain of the Chinese nation and a dark page in the history of mankind. We must not forget this history, and we must make future generations remember and cherish the hard-won peace.

Statue of Allied Flying Tigers (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

During the visit, we also saw many international friends supporting and helping China's anti-Japanese war. The Flying Tigers of the United States, the Soviet Union's China Aid Air Corps, etc. They made important contributions to China's anti-Japanese war cause, and their friendship and spirit are also worthy of our remembrance and gratitude.

Exhibition of Scenes of Japanese Surrender (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Walking out of the Memorial Hall, my mood could not be calmed for a long time. Through this visit, I have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the history of the Anti-Japanese War. The victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japan is the result of the blood and lives of countless martyrs, and is the embodiment of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation. We should remember history, honor the martyrs, cherish peace, and let the great spirit of the war of resistance be passed on forever.

Lugou Bridge Memorial Stone (Photo: passerby)

Out of the exhibition hall continue to walk forward, walked to the west gate of Wanping City, Wei Yanmen, out of a road, then came to the prestigious Lugou Bridge. Stroll not far, a huge alabaster stone in front of people's eyes, the stone carved with the pattern of Lugou Bridge, in the middle of the three big golden letters "Lugou Bridge" is striking.

Lugou Dawn Moon Monument (Photo: passerby)

Continuing to the right, you can see the "Lugou Xiao Yue" monument written by Emperor Qianlong. The monument is solemn and simple, and the words on the monument are strong and powerful, which are still clearly recognizable under the erosion of the years. The "Lugou Dawn Moon" was once one of the famous eight scenic spots in Yanjing. Whenever the moon was high in the sky, the Lugou Bridge and the moon reflected each other beautifully. Nowadays, although time has changed, this beautiful scenery is still mesmerizing.

Walking on Lugou Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

A short stroll past here brings you to the bridge. Lugou Bridge is the largest stone bridge in ancient northern China, named after the Lugou River (Yongding River). When you step on the bridge, you can see the uneven stone road that tells the traces of the years and the vicissitudes of the past. These stone slabs have carried the footsteps of countless pedestrians and witnessed the tragic war years.

Taking pictures on the bridge (Photo: passer-by)

The stone balustrades on both sides of the stone bridge are lined with watchtowers, with delicate and elegant lotus flower seats at the head of the pillars. Between each pillar is embedded stone railing plate, stone railing plate on the carving is exquisite and delicate, although some have been worn, but still can be seen that year's craftsmanship level.

A closer look at a stone lion (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Special and the most striking, when the bridge columns on the 501 stone lions in different forms, lifelike, some of the lion cubs nestled in the arms of the mother lion, as if asleep; some of the lion cubs or mischievous play, or quietly crouch in the back of the lion, naive and innocent; some lions open teeth and claws, as if to show their own majesty; and some of them are serene and quietly staring into the distance.

The lions at both ends of the bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Some are sitting on the stone pillars as if roaring towards the distance; some have their heads bowed as if listening to the sound of flowing water under the bridge. It can be said that "the lions of Lugou Bridge are countless", and each lion seems to have its own story and soul. I can not help but slow down my pace, carefully scrutinize each lion, to feel the wind and rain they have experienced and the precipitation of the years.

View of Lugou Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Stop at the center of the bridge and look out over the railing. The water of Yongding River flows quietly under the bridge, and the river sparkles as if telling stories of the past. In the distance, the towering walls of Wanping City, echoing the Lugou Bridge, form a magnificent historical picture.

View under Lugou Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Thinking back to the time when the Japanese invaders launched the "July 7th Incident" here, Chinese soldiers and civilians rose up to resist and fired the first shot of the all-out war of resistance. The fierce battle scenes seem to float in front of our eyes, making our hearts pound and full of respect for the bravery of the martyrs.

Qiaotou Historical Figures Sculpture (Photo: Jue Wang)

After the successful conclusion of the tour of Wanping City, I couldn't help but turn my head and look back again on the way, only to see the Lugou Bridge outside Wanping City lying on the Yongding River like a meandering dragon. The white stone of the bridge body in the sunshine, for the weathered stone bridge added a touch of divine glory, exudes a simple and ancient flavor.

The spectacular walls of Wanping City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In my eyes, Wanping Castle and Lugou Bridge are not only a treasure of architectural art, but also a symbol of the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation. It has witnessed the vicissitudes of history and will continue to inspire future generations to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. (Graphic: Feng Gan Yong)