The Hall in Memory of Anti-Japanese Aviation in Nanjing will be solemnly opened to the public tomorrow

(A comprehensive report of this station) On the morning of September 26, at the foot of lofty Zhongshan Mountain, “The opening ceremony of The Hall in Memory of Anti-Japanese Aviation in Nanjing” will be held solemnly. As we have learned, those present at this ceremony include He Luli, former vice-president of National People's Congress; Sun Fuling, former vice-chairman of National Political Consultative Conference; Zhu Shanlu, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of Jiangsu Province and secretary of the municipal CPC Committee of Nanjing; Yang Xinli, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of Jiangsu Province and director of the provincial Publicity Department; Bo Suning, vice-director of the provincial People’s Congress; Zhang Weiguo, deputy governor of the provincial People’s Government; Cheng Chongqing, vice-chairman of the provincial Political Consultative Conference; Miao Helin, chairman of the municipal Political Consultative Conference; Ye Hao, member of the standing committee of the municipal CPC Committee and director of the Publicity Department; Ren Jinshi, vice-director of the municipal People’s Congress; Lu Bing, vice-mayor of the Municipal People’s Government; Xu Lixin, vice-chairman of the municipal Political Consultative Conference; Han Decai, a Lieutenant General; Alexander Alexandrovich Sharonov, general consul of Russian Consulate in Shanghai; leaders of the United Front Department of the provincial and municipal CPC committee, various democratic parties and federations of industry and commerce; officials of American and Russian embassies to China and general consulates in Shanghai; members of “the Construction Committee of The Hall in Memory of Anti-Japanese Aviation in Nanjing; members of the Aviation Federation of Nanjing; some relatives of martyrs, institutions as donators; and individual representatives.

(The new look of the Anti-Japanese Museum)

Located to the northwest of the Cemetery of Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs and the Monument to Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs, The Hall in Memory of Anti-Japanese Aviation in Nanjing involves a total investment of 30 million yuan (RMB), as well as covers an area of 2 hectares, including a floor area of 2201 square meters, in turn including a total underground floor area of 1955 square meters. This hall is divided into four indoor parts (including “Heroic Resistance”, “International Aids”, “ Lofty Aspirations”, and “Cherishing the Memory of Martyrs”, as well as two outdoor exhibition areas (including a statue representing “the spirit of justice” of the aircraftsmen of China, Soviet Union and the USA, and the models of airplanes used by Chinese aircraftmen during “The Anti-Japanese war”. Through many kinds of “audio, photic and electric” measures, including scripts, pictures, multi-media, scenes and physical objects, this hall has completely and vividly displayed the heroic deeds of the aircraftmen of China, the USA and the Soviet Union while jointly resisting Japanese invaders in China, as well as the yearning of all walks of life for martyrs, as well as composed an ode to patriotism and internationalism. It is another new and important base in Nanjing for the education of patriotism and internationalism.

(A group photo taken in front of the Monument to Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs for the former members of the American Voluntary Aviation Team of Assisting China in Resisting Japanese Invaders, relatives of Chinese anti-Japanese pilots and others) 

“Anti-Japanese Hall” is a large sanctum in commemoration of anti-Japanese aviation martyrs planned and built on the basis of the former “Cemetery of Aviation” and “Monument to Anti-Japanese Martyrs”, in response to the wishes of Chinese and overseas personages in the aviation circle, relatives of martyrs and personages of insight, so as to commemorate anti-Japanese heroes and martyrs at home and abroad, further enhance the international influence of Jiangsu Province and Nanjing, more desirably exert the role of international friendly exchanges as a bridge, the educational role of patriotism-oriented  bases and the role of the relationship between the people on both sides of Taiwan Strait as a ligament. Its completion enables the “trinity” structure of “Cemetery of Aviation”, “Monument to Anti-Japanese Martyrs” and “Anti-Japanese Hall” to constitute an integral and important ensemble of historical buildings for commemorating the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. In addition, it marks the formal completion of the only large international sanctum for commemorating anti-Japanese aviation martyrs in China. 

(A pair of gloves used by Chen Huaimin (an aviation hero born in Jiangsu Province) before his death, as the most treasured collection in the hall)

The construction of “Anti-Japanese Hall” is a long-term wish of leaders of various levels, Chinese and overseas personages in the aviation circle, relatives of martyrs and various other people in all walks of life. As early as in 2000, at the conference for commemorating the 55th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and celebrating the 5th anniversary of “The Monument to Anti-Japanese Martyrs”, the Aviation Federation of Nanjing drafted A Tentative Plan for Building The Hall in Memory of Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs. As soon as the news was spread out, it aroused great attention from provincial and municipal leaders. Such leaders as Li Yuanchao (then secretary of the CPC Committee of Jiangsu Province), Liang Baohua (governor of Jiangsu Province) and Luo Zhijun (secretary of the Municipal  CPC Committee of Nanjing) issued important written instructions respectively, saying emphatically that “Anti-Japanese Hall” should be built into an excellent project of commemoration. In April 2005, the municipal Construction Committee approved the establishment of this memorial hall as a project. In September 2007, the Construction Department of Jiangsu Province approved the site selection and planning proposal of this project. In the meantime, the work of collecting historical data and physical objects about “Anti-Japanese Hall” was also unfolded systematically. The Aviation Federation of Nanjing mailed letters to Chinese and overseas relatives of martyrs, celebrities in the aviation circle in various countries, and experts and scholars for collecting data about anti-Japanese aviation martyrs. The Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Military Museum of Russia, the International Cooperation Commission of the USA, as well as the embassies and consulates of these two countries in China, all paid great attention and offered supports to the construction, display and arrangement of “Anti-Japanese Hall”, as well as provided a lot of valuable historical data, physical objects or replicas in succession. Mr. Tomikhin, vice-director of the First Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and Mr. Paltov, deputy general consul of Russian Consulate in Shanghai, brought electronic versions of 24 documents sorted out from the data of the archive center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. In addition, Mrs. Chen Xiangmei, wife of General Chennault, and chairman of the International Cooperation Committee of the USA, donated the diaries, medals and other precious cultural relics of General Chennault. So far, the Aviation Federation of Nanjing and the Administration of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum have received more than 300 cultural relics and historical documents donated respectively, totaling more than 600 pieces.

(The flight uniforms used by aviation martyrs before their death)

Provincial and municipal leaders have offered great care and support to the collection of the fund for building “Anti-Japanese Hall”, which has also aroused great attention from such retired leaders as Dai Shunzhi (former vice-governor of Jiangsu Province), Wu Rong (former secretary-general of the provincial Political Consultative Conference), Fang Ming (former chairman of the municipal Political Consultative Conference), and Chen Suiheng (former vice-chairman of the provincial Political Consultative Conference). A fund-raising proposal was eventually determined that the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province should appropriate a fund of 7.5 million yuan (RMB), the Municipal People’s Government of Nanjing should appropriate a fund of 7.5 million yuan (RMB) and the rest of the fund should be raised by the Administration of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum. In addition, relevant organizations, individuals and relatives of martyrs at home and abroad made generous and active donations. Mr. Fang Shouyi (deceased), former board chairman of Singaporean Airtrust Group of Companies, personally donated 1.5 million yuan (RMB). On April 4, last year, after having completed various preparations, the Administration of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum solemnly held a ceremony for laying the foundation for “Anti-Japanese Hall”, thus having formally started the construction of  “Anti-Japanese Hall”.
In the past year, the CPC committee of the Administration of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum has been attaching great importance to the construction project of “Anti-Japanese Hall”: It designated this project as the most important work of the year; the leaders of this administration frequently went to the construction site in person to guide the construction, supervise the progress of the project and exert strict control over its quality. Thanks to the cares of leaders of various levels, we have eventually built “Anti-Japanese Hall” into an excellent project capable of standing the test of time as well as the comment of history with our high sense of responsibility and mission. For this purpose, we have always been demanding the designers, constructors, supervisors, displayers and arrangers of this project to strictly control the quality of the project, as well as earnestly and energetically boost the progress of the project according to the set schedule and quality and the most strict and realistic style of work.
The completion of “Anti-Japanese Hall” enables Nanjing as an ancient city to have a sacred place to commemorate the victory of the international anti-fascist war, forms a ligament for friendly exchanges among China, the USA and Russia, as well as marks that the great merits and the opposing spirit of Chinese and foreign aviation martyrs in Chinese Anti-Japanese War will remain immortal, and the spirit of patriotism and internationalism will remain permanent. In addition, the completion of this hall will certainly exert its active and far-reaching influence in developing the education of patriotism and internationalism, displaying the international image of Nanjing, expanding its international influence and enhancing its international reputation. (Scripts/Liao Jinhan; Pictures//Feng Li)