After watching the movie "The Eight Hundred," I have added this place to my must-visit list in Shanghai

🔥The Beginning of the Eight-Year War of Resistance Against Japan🔥 On July 7, 1937, during a Japanese military exercise near Lugou Bridge southwest of Beiping, Japan used the excuse of "a missing soldier" to demand entry into Wanping County for a search. After being refused, they directly opened fire on the defending troops and bombarded Wanping City. This marked the start of the Japanese imperialist full-scale invasion of China. 🔥The Origin of the Battle of Shanghai🔥 On August 9, 1937, a lieutenant and a soldier from the Japanese Navy Marine Corps stationed in Shanghai forcibly drove into Hongqiao Military Airport. When the airport guards tried to stop them, they were shot. The Chinese army was forced to retaliate, killing the two Japanese soldiers. This incident became the trigger for the August 13 Battle of Shanghai. In this Battle of Shanghai, China deployed over 750,000 troops across land, sea, and air, suffering about 300,000 casualties; Japan deployed 250,000 troops with over 60,000 casualties. Although our weapons and equipment were vastly inferior, patriotic spirit united everyone to resist the invaders. Even as those in front fell, those behind were fearless and bravely fought the enemy, shattering the Japanese army’s arrogant plan to conquer China in three months. ✨Core Exhibit: The Defense of the Sihang Warehouse✨ (October 26-31, 1937) The Sihang Warehouse is a 25-meter-high concrete building originally built as a warehouse jointly funded by four banks (Jincheng Bank, Zhongnan Bank, Continental Bank, and Salt Industry Bank). The first battalion of the 524th regiment, 262nd brigade, 88th division of the National Revolutionary Army actually had only about 420 soldiers, but to confuse the Japanese, they claimed to be "eight hundred men." On the night of October 26, 1937, they entered the warehouse to hold their ground. The "Eight Hundred Heroes," determined to sacrifice themselves for the country, resisted the Japanese invaders in this small area. Over four days and nights, they repelled more than a dozen fierce attacks, killing over 200 enemy soldiers. In the early morning of October 31, 1937, they were ordered to withdraw into the International Settlement but were detained at the Jiaozhou Road barracks by the settlement authorities. The Japanese invaders saw Xie Jinyuan as a thorn in their side, so on April 24, 1941, he was assassinated by a traitor bribed by the Japanese army and tragically died. After society learned of this, a grand memorial was held to honor this great anti-Japanese national hero. Three people who left the deepest impression on me: 1) Deputy commander Xie Jinyuan, who actually abandoned literature for military service. 2) Chen Shusheng, who sacrificed his life for righteousness at only 21 years old. 3) Girl Scout Yang Huimin, who courageously delivered the flag. At that time, the east and south sides of the Sihang Warehouse bordered the British and American concessions, so the Japanese could only attack from the west. The bullet-riddled west wall we see now was restored based on the original bullet holes to maintain authenticity. The exhibition is divided into four main parts: (1) Bloody Battle of Shanghai (2) Defending the Sihang Warehouse (3) Lone Army Resistance (4) Immortal Monument - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Why Chiang Kai-shek ordered them to hold the Sihang Warehouse to the death: 1) To cover the main army’s retreat westward 2) To gain international support at the Nine-Power Treaty Conference held in Brussels, Belgium on November 3, showing the world China’s firm stance against Japanese aggression. Outcome: Although most of these heroes survived, they did not achieve victory. On November 1, they were forced to retreat into the International Settlement, disarmed, and placed under house arrest in a concentration camp. This memorial hall is very well planned. At the entrance is a heartfelt letter from Deputy Commander Xie Jinyuan to his wife, which is truly moving. Only in the final exhibition hall do you learn that 80% of the "Eight Hundred Heroes" were from Xianning, Hubei. Let us remember the martyrs and the lessons of history, and wish for world peace with no more wars. 🎫Admission: Free ⏰Opening Hours: 09:00-16:30 (Closed on Mondays) 📍Address: No. 21 Guangfu Road, Beizhan Street, Jing’an District, Shanghai (Metro 🚇 Lines 8 and 12, Qufu Road Station) 🌼Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours