Through thick and thin, we sail together to discuss the unity of our country. Source: You Lick

On September 18, 1931, the Sino Japanese War began, and on July 7, 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, marking the full-scale outbreak of the Sino Japanese War. On November 20, 1937, the Nationalist Government issued the "Declaration on Relocating the Capital to Chongqing". Subsequently, Chongqing became the wartime capital, the Nationalist government relocated to Chongqing, and the entire Nanjing National Government relocated to Chongqing. The main departments of the National Government were concentrated within a two square kilometer area centered around Shangqing Temple.

It was from this moment on that Shangqing Temple stepped onto the historical stage.

On August 22, 1939, the southern suburbs of Chongqing were bombed by the Japanese army. Amidst the smoke, ordinary people rushed to take ferries to escape. Source: Sanlian Life Weekly

01 Iron Bone Zhengzheng Shangqing Temple

In that era, Shangqing Temple was undoubtedly the center of the national resistance against Japan, from which countless orders to resist foreign enemies were issued. At the same time, this place was also the hub of the International Anti Japanese Allied Forces' theater and an important stage for the anti Japanese national united front.

On September 28, 1939, a Japanese aviation fighter squadron launched an air raid on Chongqing. Source: Sanlian Life Weekly

Therefore, from February 1938 to August 1943, the Japanese army launched a five and a half year crazy bombing campaign on Chongqing, and the Shangqing Temple was naturally of paramount importance. The air raid shelter currently located along the Liziba line was also designed for that era.

As people living in a peaceful era, it is difficult for us to imagine the brutality and grief of that time - on May 3 and May 4, 1939, under the bombing of the Japanese army, countless Chongqing citizens were killed or injured, known as the "May 3, May 4" bombing.

On the second day of the tragedy, May 5, 1939, the Nationalist Government located in Shangqing Temple declared Chongqing directly under its jurisdiction, aiming to announce to the world China's determination to fight to the end.

In the 1940s, Chongqing's National Restaurant continued to operate amidst the ruins of the city

On December 23, 1941, the Joint Military Conference between China, the United States, and the United Kingdom was held at the Shangqing Temple, marking the Allies' joint willingness to resist the enemy;

On January 2, 1942, the Allied Chinese Theater Command was established in Chongqing, and Jingxiu Middle School became the Allied Command, commanding millions of Allied forces in East Asia to fight against Japan;

In February 1942, the telegram "Message to the Soldiers Entering Burma" was sent out from Shangqing Temple, inspiring hundreds of thousands of expeditionary soldiers on the Yunnan Burma front line;

On January 11, 1943, the United States, Britain, and other countries issued a statement announcing their abandonment of unequal treaties in China. The Nationalist government also signed a "new treaty" with other countries at the Shangqing Temple, abolishing most of China's humiliating treaties since the Opium War;

In 1943, when Chiang Kai shek inspected the Chinese Expeditionary Force, he shook hands with General Stilwell

Image source: CCTV News

Sending a cold star without inspection, I recommend Xuan Yuan with my blood.

At the moment of turbulent times, the iron bones of Shangqing Temple stand firm.

02 Thread through the United Front

Only the Great Wall of Unity of the United Front can save China from its seasonal retreat.

It was here that comrades from the Southern Bureau spent countless sleepless nights. Ye Jianying, Qiao Guanhua, and Gong Peng, who were in their prime years, were also permanent residents of Xiaolou.

Map of Zhou Gongguan Square before renovation source: Luo Dawan

The renovated Zhou Mansion Square Source: Wang Huan

Especially after the outbreak of the "Wannan Incident" in 1941, the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was disrupted, and the anti Japanese national united front was in crisis. Some political parties and individuals outside the Kuomintang and the Communist Party who advocate resistance against Japan urgently hope to unite.

During the period from 1941 to 1945, the Southern Bureau held several discussions with artists and performers at No. 50 Zengjiayan in Shangqing Temple, taking advantage of the foggy season in Chongqing from October to May of the following year to organize large-scale performances. The performances lasted for four sessions, with more than 100 plays performed, known as the "fog season performances" in history.

She not only became the golden age in the history of Chinese drama, but also greatly consolidated the anti Japanese national united front at that time, and won more support for the Communist Party.

No. 50 Zengjiayan, balcony near Jialing River

At the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Zhou Enlai once said, "Before 1945, only the cultural and educational sectors approached us, and now the industrial and commercial sectors have also approached us... United Front work can be said to be very successful

Throughout the Anti Japanese War, the high-level negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in Chongqing were intermittent and annual, focusing on issues such as military friction, cooperation against the enemy, and coalition government.

The Southern Bureau mainly undertook the negotiation responsibility on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Many negotiation plans, methods, and strategies were studied by the Southern Bureau and reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for approval. Leaders of the Southern Bureau, such as Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying, and Dong Biwu, directly intervened in negotiations multiple times to maintain limited cooperation. The Shangqing Temple became a key place for easing relations and bridging differences.

Zengjiayan No. 50, which was destroyed by Japanese planes

On December 8, 1941, the Pacific War broke out. This event changed the global political landscape and balance of power, and had a huge impact on the situation in China at that time.

To this end, Comrade Zhou Enlai led the leaders and staff of the Southern Bureau to frequently meet with foreign diplomats, aid agencies, and journalists at the Shangqing Temple, making friends with foreign countries and using a large amount of facts and written materials to explain the contributions of the Communist Party in the Anti Japanese War.

In 1944, it was under the influence of the South Bureau that the Chinese and foreign press corps and the US military observer group visited Yan'an. The CPC has expanded its influence to the international community.

At that time, there were many influential figures in Shangqing Temple, and one person was sometimes referred to as the "Mengchang Lord" of Chongqing, which is worth remembering.

There is a mansion near the turntable of Shangqing Temple called Teyuan, which was the former residence of the famous patriotic and democratic figure Xianying during the Anti Japanese War. Because Xianying's character is "Te Sheng", it is also called Teyuan.

Monument to the Establishment of the Three Principles of the People Comrades' Federation Note: On October 28, 1945, the Three Principles of the People Comrades' Federation was established in the Shangqing Temple Special Park in Chongqing

At that time, under the political pressure of the Kuomintang, many people were unwilling to have contact with the Communist Party and dared not provide venues for its activities in order to avoid trouble. At the end of 1938, Dong Biwu and Zhou Enlai came to the Special Garden with trepidation to visit Xianying.

Xianying

Although Xianying is known as the 'Lord Mengchang', due to the current situation, Zhou Enlai still hinted and explored his intentions. Unexpectedly, Xianying calmly said, 'I have always had the ambition to serve the country. Today, Mr. Zhou and Mr. Dong are so sincere and willing to go to the national crisis together.'

Afterwards, Teyuan became an important venue for the Southern Bureau to carry out united front work in Chongqing. It is also through the efforts of Xianying and the Southern Bureau that democratic figures exchange and discuss here, and democratic forces are united here.

04 Democracy House for the People

There are currently eight democratic parties in China, among which the Chinese Democratic League and the Three Principles of the People Comrades' Federation, one of the predecessors of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang, originated from the Shangqing Temple, which has become the cradle of Chinese democratic parties.

(Note: The latest research result is that Mao Zedong visited the Six Gu Te Yuan, three of which were to meet Zhang Lan, but for the sake of rigor, they all said that the Three Gu Te Yuan would meet Zhang Lan.)

Monument to the Establishment of the Chinese Democratic League Note: In March 1941, the Chinese Democratic Political League was secretly established at Shangqing Temple in Chongqing, and was renamed the Chinese Democratic League in September 1944

Chairman Mao once said affectionately, "This is the home of democracy, and I have also arrived home. Today we gather at the 'home of democracy', and in the future we will work together to live in a democratic country

It is worth mentioning that in the 1960s, a major fire broke out in Teyuan, and almost all the houses were destroyed. This door plaque was saved by Xian Jijian, the eldest son of Xian Ying, who rushed into the fire to rescue him despite his own danger. It is now a national first-class cultural relic and is stored in the Red Rock Revolution Memorial Hall.

The establishment of the 93 Society benefited from the influence of Chairman Mao during the negotiations in Chongqing. Chairman Mao met with some professors from Central University and Chongqing University, as well as the couple Xu Deheng and Lao Junzhan, at Shangqing Temple. I learned that they established the 93 Symposium on September 3rd, but I am concerned about the small number of people and minimal impact. Chairman Mao first said: It doesn't matter if the number of people is small. You are all representative figures who often express their opinions and views in newspapers, don't you also play a great role in propaganda? At the same time, encourage them to turn the discussion into a permanent political organization.

Inspired and encouraged by Chairman Mao, the Jiusan Society was established on January 6, 1946 and officially founded on May 4.

05 United Front Traditional Education Base

Democracy is not a thing of the past, it is an ongoing process.

In March 2004, the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to establish the first "Traditional Education Base of the Chinese United Front" in Chongqing, and set up a united front propaganda and education joint line led by the "Special Garden · Exhibition Hall of Chinese Democratic Party History".

The project is divided into two phases. On March 12, 2008, the Chinese Democratic Party History Exhibition Hall, which relies on the old building of the special park, officially opened. In March 2011, the construction and exhibition of the "New Chinese Democratic Party History Exhibition Hall" in the second phase of the project were successfully completed.

And in the special park memorial hall built, there is a commemorative book that appears particularly friendly and valuable. She was originally owned by Xian Jizhen, a student at Jinling University in Chengdu.

During the war, Xian Jizhen had great admiration for these democratic figures. Every time she came home from school, she would take out this commemorative book and invite visiting celebrities to write inscriptions. This commemorative book has left behind the handwriting of Zhang Lan, Shen Junru, Feng Yuxiang, Guo Moruo, Tao Xingzhi and others, which is a testimony to the hearts of people during the infiltration of democracy.

The desire for democracy left a stir in the hearts of young people at that time. At that time, the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was the biggest driving force behind this democratic process.

Today, this is the only comprehensive exhibition hall in China that fully reflects the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system led by the CPC. In May 2013, the special park was announced as a national key cultural relics protection unit, and in 2020, the special park was announced as the third batch of national anti Japanese war sites.

Xianying couple

This is enough to comfort Xianying's spirit in heaven.

She also continued to contribute energy to the united front and democracy of the republic.

06 comrades also came to Shangqing Temple

The Anti Fascist War is a glorious and united battle for those who uphold the concept of justice.

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, marking the outbreak of the Pacific War. Subsequently, the United States declared war on Japan, and the Allied powers decided to establish a Chinese theater of war, with Chiang Kai shek as the supreme commander and Stilwell as the chief of staff.

During the war, Stilwell arrived in Chongqing and resided in the official residence of the Chief of Staff of the Allied Chinese Theater Command near the current Shangqing Temple and Liziba Light Rail.

Source of Stilwell's Old Residence: Luo Dawan

The official residence is built along the mountain and has more than ten rooms of different sizes. In addition to living, it is mostly used as an office. In addition to General Stilwell, there are also his aides and attendants living here.

During this period, many important military and political figures from both China and abroad, such as Lord Mountbatten, the commander-in-chief of the Southeast Asian Allied Forces, and General Somerville, the Secretary of the United States Army Logistics Department, also came here for talks and even stayed overnight to discuss matters related to military aircraft.

General Stilwell Memorial Hall

The establishment of the Chinese theater of war provided a coordinated command center for the allied forces in Myanmar, Thailand, and India, which played an important role in attacking the Japanese army.

Nowadays, the former residence of General Stilwell has become the only museum in China named after foreign soldiers - the Chongqing Stilwell Museum, which is also to thank General Stilwell for helping the Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japan.

On the third floor of the road in Liziba, Shangqing Temple, another small building belongs to the office of the hero "Flying Tigers" in the hearts of Chongqing people at that time.

Flying Tigers fighter jets taking off

The rescue plaque issued by the Nationalist government to the Flying Tigers pilots

In 1941, Chen Naide was commissioned by Chiang Kai shek to form the United States Volunteer Air Force Assistance Brigade to China and join the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan. With the support of the Roosevelt administration, Chenault recruited American pilots and mechanics in the name of a private organization at great cost to participate in the war as civilians.

Claire Lee Chennault

This is the 'Flying Tigers' in the War of Resistance Against Japan.

On August 1, 1945, when Chenault left Chongqing, the streets were crowded with people. They are sending the hero who helped them resist the Chongqing bombing.

Chongqing citizens bid farewell to Chennault

07 Double Tenth Agreement, brief peace

In 1945, the Chinese people drove away the aggressors, but long-lasting peace had not yet arrived.

On September 3, 1945, in Chongqing, the Japanese officially surrendered to the Chinese. The US military stationed in China participated in the Victory Day parade, and the people of Chongqing lined up and danced dragons to pay tribute to these true allies who helped the Chinese

The two small buildings of Shangqing Temple record the distant history, and the country and people are in a complex state of happiness and tension.

They were the core area of the negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China. One of them was Building 2 of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, located at No. 36 Zhongshan Fourth Road. At that time, it was Chiang Kai shek's private residence, also known as the "Meiling Building". During the negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China in 1945, representatives from both parties held four talks here starting from September 27th;

The two sides of the Communist Party of China signed the famous "Minutes of Talks between the Government and CCP Representatives" in Guiyuan, also known as the "Double Tenth Agreement"

The second one is Guiyuan, located at No. 65 Zhongshan Fourth Road, Shangqing Temple. This place was originally the residence of Zhang Zhizhong, and during the negotiations in Chongqing, General Zhang Zhizhong prepared this place as the residence for Chairman Mao's office and reception in Chongqing.

More than ten days later, on October 10th, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai signed the "Minutes of the Meeting of Representatives of the Communist Party and the Kuomintang" on behalf of the Communist Party and the Kuomintang here. This is the famous "Double Tenth Agreement" in the history of the Chinese revolution.

Guiyuan Tuyuan: You Lili

Internal image source of Guiyuan: Luo Dawan

Chairman Mao once commented on the meeting minutes as follows: "The first advantage of this meeting minutes is that it was formally signed by both parties in an equal manner, which has never been seen before in history

This has won a brief peace for the weather beaten China.

Unfinished to be continued