Is history a grand narrative or a trivial detail?

This is a widely debated value system in academia

It seems to determine how we view two intersections

During wartime, domestic politicians and embassies from multiple countries gathered here

Turning hands into clouds and covering hands into rain, between words and laughter, history has repeatedly stepped on turning points

There are no two intersections

There will also be some historical inevitability

But if there were no two intersections, the story wouldn't be the one it tells today

Dinner parties and letters were held at two intersections, along with the smoke of war and the surveillance cameras of war correspondents

……

It's all history

And the core of history

At certain moments, in this place, it's someone's decision

At the intersection of two roads, we plan to provide assistance to China's resistance against Japan to the world, and take it as our responsibility to seek international support for China's resistance against Japan

Sending various distress messages to the world from two intersections and raising huge funds became a powerful support for the resistance war.

Defend the Former Headquarters of the Chinese Alliance Photography by Yulike

In the small building, obtain the freedom of the first floor

On December 8, 1941, the Pacific War broke out, and on the 10th, Soong Ching ling arrived in Chongqing from Hong Kong.

The original intention of Soong Ching ling's visit to Chongqing this time was to rebuild the "Defend China Alliance" and encourage all peace loving and democratic people around the world to further work hard to supply China with medicine and relief supplies - more specifically, to raise funds.

Song Qingling did not have a house in Chongqing. At first, she temporarily stayed at her elder sister Song Ailing's house, but her brother-in-law Kong Xiangxi was monitoring her openly and secretly, and her situation was dangerous. In the end, her younger brother Song Ziwen helped her find a small building at No. 3 Lianglukou Xincun (now No. 5 Lianglukou Xincun).

Defend the Former Headquarters of the Chinese Alliance Photography by Yulike

This small building covers an area of 1200 square meters, with a construction area of 760 square meters. In addition to the main and rear buildings, it also comes with an air raid shelter, which at first glance is smaller than the current standalone buildings in Blue Lake County and Palm Springs. The highlight is that there is a hidden air raid shelter behind the house. The interior decoration mainly features deep walnut colored wooden furniture and finishes, which are steady and mellow, with some small carvings and exquisite details.

Photo of the interior of the air raid shelter at the former headquarters of the Chinese Alliance for the Defense of China by You Lick

It's a rose, and even more so a lion

For over 70 years, the stone steps at the entrance have not changed. Soong Ching ling stepped on these stone steps and stepped into this small building, leading the Alliance to Defend China and issuing appeals to foreign friendly individuals and patriotic overseas Chinese. As a result, a large amount of various forms of international aid gathered and became the support for the long-lasting resistance war. Taking the United States as an example, from 1941 to the end of August 1946, the American Aid to China Federation provided various aid and relief funds to China through the Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of China, totaling 1.59 million US dollars and 440 million French dollars.

Interior Photography of the Former Headquarters of the Defending China Alliance/Youlik

During Song Qingling's work at Lianglukou, except for a small amount of donations from designated recipients, the vast majority were sent to the anti Japanese base areas behind enemy lines. During the period of 1938 to 1948, the International Peace Hospital was established in the anti Japanese base areas with the support of the Bao Meng, forming a huge medical network consisting of 8 central hospitals, 42 branches, over 10000 beds, and dozens of mobile medical teams, providing medical services to 140 million people. In 1946, Zhou Enlai returned to Yan'an from Chongqing and wrote a letter to Soong Ching ling, "Thank you for the work you have done for the people of the liberated areas... Not only the liberated areas, but the entire Chinese people will feel proud because of you, a leader who always serves the people

Interior Photography of the Former Headquarters of the Defending China Alliance/Youlik

My old home is here, and the wind is strong. This small building, which has now become the exhibition hall of the former residence of Soong Ching ling in Chongqing, collects 110 physical objects and historical photos to preserve the shared memories of Soong Ching ling and Chongqing. This is also one of the world's perceptions of Soong Ching ling, as praised by the famous French writer and Nobel laureate Romain Rolland: "Soong Ching ling is not only a bright flower that permeates the world, but also a true lion that strives to break through all traps

Photography of Wool Scarves Used by Soong Ching ling/Youlik

Perhaps the first wealthy businessman of the Qing Dynasty

After helping the Qing government repay the treasury bond, he received a gift from Sun Yat sen

This is a long story, and at the beginning of the story, the protagonist named Li Yaoting is a small merchant in Yunnan who runs a caravan business. By chance, he met the big boss of Yunnan Tianshunxiang Trading Company and came to Chongqing from Yunnan to open a branch in Chongqing. After operating in Chongqing for a period of time, it became the leader of the southern ticket market. After the opening of Chongqing as a port, Li Yaoting switched from business to industry and invested in the construction of Zhuchuan Electric Light Company, Tongchuan Cotton Factory and Silk Factory, and Chuanjiang Shipping Company. Over the course of 30 years, he became a prominent richest man.

The richest man of any era has a heart of patriotism. When the Chongqing General Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1904, he was elected the first president. In 1909, Li Yaoting helped the Qing government repay the treasury bond, put capital into railway construction, and industrialists saved the country, which is clear evidence. Li Yaoting supported the Republic, had frequent contacts with the Chongqing branch of the Chinese Revolutionary League, and provided funds for revolutionary activities for many times. Sun Yat sen wrote a banner of "foresight" in his own hand.

Here left his most vivid mark on the two intersections: due to his cancellation of the railway debt relationship between the Qing government and France, the Qing government thanked him by allowing him to choose a gift of his own, and he took the land of Goose Ridge. The Goose Ridge is closely connected to the old city of Chongqing, with a peak protruding from the west of the city. That mountain range is slender like the neck of an goose, hence it was formerly called Goose Neck Ridge, also known as Goose Neck Ridge. The Goose Ridge is often shrouded in clouds and mist, and one can overlook the towering cliffs on the ridge. The mountains are majestic and the waters are vast, with infinite scenery. It has always been known as the first scenic spot in the mountain city, and the beautiful scenery of Goose Ridge is also known as the first scenic spot in Bayu.

Erling Liangjiang Pavilion Photography by Chen Yunyuan

Under the careful construction of father and son, this has become the earliest private garden in Chongqing. Named Liyuan (also known as Yiyuan).

The Tongxuan Stone Chamber is one of the important buildings. The width is 18.1 meters, the depth is 8.7 meters, the overall height is 7 meters, the building area is 132.11 square meters, the land area is 94.08 square meters, and the protected area is 820 square meters. There are tunnel style stone steps leading to the roof platform on both sides of the stone houses. The indoor ground stone is in the layout of Yin and Yang Eight Diagrams, and the eaves of the stone room are decorated with arch of wooden architecture, vase, geometric patterns, etc.

Tongxuan Stone Studio Photography/Photo provided by Chen Sa Biao, Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

The Tongxuan Stone Room is built entirely of stone and adopts a Romanesque architectural style, combined with Chinese elements in patterns. It is exquisitely carved, quaint and elegant. During the Anti Japanese War, the Nationalist government moved its capital to Chongqing, and Chiang Kai shek and Soong Mei ling and his wife once enjoyed cooling off and escaping the heat inside. After liberation, this garden became the headquarters of the Southwest Military Region, where Deng Xiaoping, Liu Bocheng, He Long, and others successively resided.

Tongxuan Stone Studio Photography/Photo provided by Chen Sa Biao, Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

In 1958, the Chongqing Municipal Government expanded and renovated Liyuan, replanted trees, flowers, and plants, and named it Erling Park, which was officially opened to the public.

Dialogue to Change the World Pattern

Anyone who initiates a civil war will inevitably face pressure from the Soviet Union at two crossroads

In the main street of Loquat Mountain in Yuzhong District, there is now a small western-style building covered in green vines inside the Third People's Hospital. The building has delicate and complex plaster lintels and window lintels, and the blue, green, yellow, and silver matched window glass exudes a strong exotic style.

Photography of the Former Soviet Embassy Site/Photo provided by Jiang Tingju, Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

This is the former Soviet embassy left behind during the Anti Japanese War. This European style Baroque asymmetrical villa on the fourth floor and first floor bears witness to the deep friendship between China and the former Soviet Union during the Anti Japanese War.

Ouyang Hua's pen and ink painting of the former Soviet Embassy located at 104 Zhengjie, loquat mountain

The first national document presented

In 1936, Chongqing tycoon Zeng Ziwei built a church style villa for himself at Feilai Temple in Loquat Mountain, Yuzhong District. This building is decorated with rose reliefs on the curved lintels and window lintels, and the doors and windows are made of wrought iron. The design also fully conforms to the terrain - backed by the top of the slope, the left side is designed with a corridor leading directly to the mountain road, backed by the loquat mountain, facing the south mountain from afar, and connected to the Buddhist temple of Xiongguan.

Zeng Ziwei's image comes from the internet

This villa, which was once referred to as the "Chongqing Wonderland" by the New People's Daily, was handed over to the Soviet Embassy for use shortly after its completion. On January 19, 1938, the newly appointed Soviet Ambassador to China, Olesky, and others arrived in Chongqing by plane from Hankou and presented their credentials to the President of the Nationalist Government, Lin Sen, on January 23. They became the first foreign ambassador to China to arrive in Chongqing and present their credentials during the War of Resistance Against Japan, and Zeng's residence eventually became the Soviet Embassy.

Since 1938, Soviet Ambassador to China Pan Youxin has been working here, and the famous General Zhukov is also a frequent visitor. During the 8-year War of Resistance Against Japan, the Soviet Embassy made indelible contributions, with Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Chiang Kai shek all being regular visitors to the embassy.

Internal Photography of the Former Soviet Embassy/Photo provided by Jiang Tingju, Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

Change history, starting from here.

This is probably one of the most positive and direct buildings that have influenced Chinese history at the intersection of two roads.

In December 1940, the soon to be appointed Soviet military attach é to China and Chiang Kai shek's chief military advisor, Major General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, along with 15 Soviet military advisors, arrived in the capital city of Chongqing. On this trip, Chuikov brought a large amount of military supplies from the Soviet Union, such as 150 fighter jets, 100 fast bombers, 300 cannons, and so on. Chuikov, who had traveled to Chongqing, was full of peace and enthusiasm. Shortly after arriving, the Anhui Incident broke out.

The portrait image of Chekhov comes from the internet

On January 11, 1941, Zhou Enlai attended the 3rd anniversary celebration party of the founding of Xinhua Daily and learned of the outbreak of the Anhui Incident. He immediately went to the Soviet Embassy with Ye Jianying to meet with Chuikov and inform the Kuomintang of the truth behind the launch of the Anhui Incident. The Soviet embassy decided to actively intervene and strongly express its attitude.

On January 25th, Pan Youxin paid a visit to Chiang Kai shek, and Chuikov also met with Nationalist military and political officials to inquire about the situation of the Anhui Incident. The Soviet side repeatedly emphasized that civil war was harmful to the anti aggression struggle, which could lead to the Soviet side stopping its aid to China.

Street View Photography of the Former Soviet Embassy Site by Yulik

Faced with pressure from the Soviet Union, on March 6th, Chiang Kai shek made a "guarantee" that there would be no military suppression of the Communist Party in the future. On March 14th and 25th, Chiang Kai shek met with Zhou Enlai twice under the mediation of the Soviet Union, and had careful discussions on many matters. Thus, the second anti communist wave launched by the Kuomintang during the Anti Japanese War was completely repelled.

The interaction and cooperation with the Soviet Union at the intersection of two roads is a significant chapter in the history of Sino Soviet relations. The strength of China's long-lasting resistance against Japan was strengthened, and it also cooperated, coordinated, and supported the Soviet Union's anti fascist war, which had an impact on the overall pattern of the world's anti fascist war.

A strong youth makes a strong country

All work related to children is for the future of our country

The Cultural Palace and the Youth Palace are separated by a wall at two intersections, carrying many people's childhood memories.

The Cultural Palace started construction in July 1951 and was completed in 1952. Deng Xiaoping, who worked in the Southwest Bureau, personally named it. In the past, the Cultural Palace Cinema and Cultural Square were important venues for large-scale park activities during city wide gatherings and festivals.

Photography of the entrance of the Cultural Palace/Youlik

The origin of the Youth Palace is even more ancient. In 1940, the Soviet Union had 1846 children's extracurricular education institutions in the Russian Federation alone, including youth palaces, youth homes, natural science enthusiast workstations, and youth technician clubs, which became a supplement to extracurricular education. The first wave of Soviet aerospace technicians had mostly experienced youth palaces.

Photography of the Children's Palace Gate by You Lick

With the help of the Soviet Union, the construction of youth palaces in various cities of China was put on the agenda. Due to the central location of the intersection, the Chongqing Youth Palace was relocated to the Yang Sen Mansion before the liberation, becoming the center of the city's extracurricular education network.

Before various commercial education and training institutions bloomed everywhere, the childhood training of children in Chongqing was held at the Cultural Palace and the Youth Palace. Every weekend in the 1980s and 1990s, children from Jiangbei District, Shapingba District, Nan'an District, and even Dadukou District rushed to the intersection with their own or their parents' dreams. At that time, there was a child named Pang Zhonghua who was learning calligraphy at the intersection of two roads, as well as future performing artist Shen Fa, famous erhu performer Huang Anyuan, international ballet dancer Liu Jun, world's smallest stamp designer Wang Yiru, sports champion Huang Yonghong, and so on.

Master's works still exist

At two intersections, even if it's only 30 meters away, you still need to practice skydiving. This kind of spirit is enough to make a skyscraper

In October 1941, the skydiving tower began construction at Lianglukou, and in 1942, the skydiving tower was completed.

According to the Dagong Evening News, on August 14, 1942, the first parachute jumping competition was held in Chongqing, which sparked a craze for skydiving. From 1942 to 1946, nearly 80000 people participated in skydiving at Lianglukou. At that time, almost all members of the Air Force had received parachute training here. The air raids were intense, and parachute jumping could potentially save one's life.

The old photo of the skydiving tower is from "Centennial Shangqing Temple"

Nowadays, there are professional bases for skydiving training, and wartime training has become a thing of the past. Even daily sports training has more choices. As a building, its unconventional design is no less impressive in the constantly emerging contemporary works.

Parachute Tower Photography/Yulike

In the 1940s, the highest achiever of architectural masters was also known as "Nan Yang Bei Liang". Bei Liang was Liang Sicheng, Nan Yang was Yang Tingbao, and the skydiving tower was a famous work left by Yang Tingbao in Chongqing.

The historical stories in the smoke of gunpowder, combined with the structure of this building, still stand today as a symbol of indomitable spirit, recording the years when people had to practice parachuting without airplanes and were unarmed but wanted to fight back.

The fragrance of books amidst the smoke of gunpowder

Even during the bombing, the two intersections never forgot to preserve their cultural heritage

The Roosevelt Library, formerly known as the National Central Library, is located at 11 Changjiang 1st Road.

The library occupies a high space, and in October 1938, the first nursery on Xinshi Street at Lianglukou was surveyed to build a new library. On August 1, 1940, the National Central Library was completed and Chiang Kai shek was appointed as its director. In 1941, the library was opened with a building area of approximately 2405 square meters. Inside the T-shaped building on the third floor and first floor, the space is spacious and the black wooden staircase is quaint and atmospheric. When there is no bombing, people can read books, accompany their thoughts and stories in the smoke of gunpowder, and overcome difficulties together.

Roosevelt Library Photography/Youlik

After the victory of the Anti Japanese War, the National Central Library was relocated back to Nanjing in batches at the beginning of the year, and the remaining buildings in Chongqing were converted into offices and continued to be open to the public. In July, to commemorate the achievements of President Roosevelt in leading the anti fascist war, the Roosevelt Library was established there.

Roosevelt Library Photography/Youlik

On July 19, 2011, Roosevelt's granddaughter Anne Roosevelt visited the library and presented a bronze statue of Roosevelt as a gift. There are only four comprehensive large libraries in the world named after President Roosevelt, and the Chongqing Roosevelt Library is the only unit in China to receive a bronze statue of Roosevelt.

Roosevelt Library Photography/Youlik

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Text | Lian'er Ye

Layout | Hua Mei

Part of the images are sourced from the internet, infringing and deleted