Civilian sacrifices

About 85 kilometers away from downtown Beijing, the Yuzishan Memorial for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is located beside the Jingdong Grand Canyon in northeastern Beijing's Pinggu district, with the continuous mountains making a charming natural backdrop. Covering an area of 400 square meters, the memorial displays precious historical pictures from the war of resistance. The memorial opened to the public in 1997.

The original site of the Jidong Base is another place worth visiting in the district. Soldiers and civilians waged a struggle against the Japanese invaders in the mountain and made countless sacrifices for victory. In July 1940, five Communist Party members established the district's first Party branch here. Under the CPC's leadership, the locals fought the Japanese invaders. The area was known as Unbeatable Yuzishan at that time.

Visitors should also not miss the Pingbei Anti-Japanese Martyrs Memorial Park sitting at the foot of Longqingxia Gorge in northwestern Beijing's Yanqing district. The park consists of a martyrs' cemetery, monument and memorial hall. There are also displays explaining the history of Pingbei's military and civilian resistance against the Japanese invasion from March 1933 to September 1945. In the district's Shatanggou village, visitors can view an exhibition that showcases the past years of the revolution. A 40-minute revolutionary documentary at the park offers visitors a deeper understanding of the historical battles.