Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders facts for kids

The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders is a special museum. It helps people remember those who lost their lives during the Nanjing Massacre. This terrible event happened when the Imperial Japanese Army attacked and took over Nanjing, the capital city of China at the time, on December 13, 1937. The museum is in the southwestern part of Nanjing, near a place called Jiangdongmen. This area was once a mass burial site where many people were buried.

Remembering the Nanjing Massacre

On December 13, 1937, the Japanese Army took control of Nanjing. Nanjing was then the capital city of the Republic of China. For about six to eight weeks after this, the Japanese Army committed many violent acts. These included widespread destruction, stealing, and harming many people.

China believes that around 300,000 regular citizens and soldiers who could not fight back were killed. This number comes from burial records and stories from people who saw what happened. Many buildings in the city were burned down. Countless shops and homes were robbed and destroyed. Many people, including children and older adults, suffered greatly during this time.

About the Memorial Hall

The Nanjing Memorial Hall was built in 1985 by the Nanjing city government. It was created to honor the 300,000 victims of the massacre. In 1995, the memorial was made bigger and updated.

The museum shows historical records and items. It uses special architecture, sculptures, and videos to explain what happened during the Nanjing Massacre. Many historical items were given by a group of Japanese people who wanted to promote friendship with China. This group also gave a garden that is on the museum grounds.

The memorial covers about 28,000 square meters. The buildings inside take up about 3,000 square meters.

The memorial has three main areas:

• Outdoor exhibits
• Sheltered remains of victims
• An exhibition hall with historical documents

Visiting the memorial is free, but you need to sign up beforehand. It can get very crowded, so be prepared for many people.

Outdoor Exhibits

The outdoor area has many things to see. These include statues, sculptures, and carvings. There are also large walls listing the names of victims. You can see a special tablet for atonement and a memorial walkway. The walkway shows footprints of survivors, some of which were added as recently as 2002.

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  Street view of the Memorial Hall

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  Entrance of the Memorial Hall, with the official name of the hall written in Traditional Chinese calligraphy by Deng Xiaoping.

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  A wall at the entrance of the Memorial Hall, with the words "Victims 300,000" carved in stone

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  A memorial wall dedicated to 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre

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  A stone relief at the Memorial Hall

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  The main plaza of the Memorial Hall

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  Statue of a victim being buried alive

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  Yanziji Nanjing Massacre Memorial in 2004

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Exhibition Hall

The main exhibition hall is partly underground and looks like a tomb. It holds over 1,000 items connected to the massacre. These include many pictures, objects, charts, and photographs. Paintings, sculptures, and videos help visitors understand the terrible acts committed by the Japanese military. The hall also has a statue of John Rabe. He was a German businessman who helped create a safe area in Nanjing during the massacre.

Researching History and Peace

The Nanjing Massacre History and International Peace Research Institute was started at the memorial hall. This happened on March 1, 2016, by the Jiangsu Provincial Government. It is led by Professor Xian Wen Zhang from Nanjing University. The institute studies the Nanjing Massacre, the Anti-Japanese War, and works towards peace.

How to Get There

You can easily reach the memorial hall by taking the Nanjing Metro. Take Line 2 to Yunjinlu Station. Use Exit 2. The entrance to the Memorial Hall is right across the street from the subway exit.

See also

In Spanish: Paseo conmemorativo de las víctimas en la masacre de Nankín para niños

• Nanjing Massacre Memorial Day