Site of the Japanese Surrender in Zhijiang, Hunan province

Address: G320, Zhijiang Dong autonomous county, Huaihua, Hunan province
Opening hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm (Closed Mondays)
Admission: 30 yuan/($4.17)person

The Site of the Japanese Surrender in Zhijiang, Hunan province, marking China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), is the place where the Chinese people accepted the surrender of the Japanese invaders on August 21, 1945.

The site covers an area of approximately 40,000 square meters, consisting of four main parts: the Surrender Ceremony Site, the Surrender Memorial Archway, the Memorial Hall of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the Zhijiang Airfield.

The Memorial Hall -- a two-storey building – houses the curated permanent exhibition with the themes "Eight Years of Resistance", "China Accepts Japan’s Surrender", and "Never Forget the History".

The Surrender Memorial Archway is inscribed with dedications from key military and political commanders of the Kuomingtang government, including Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), Li Zongren (1891-1969), and Bai Chongxi (1893-1966). The horizontal inscription in the center “Shaking the Past and Illuminating the Present” was inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek, along with the central couplet honoring the historic Japanese surrender and its lasting legacy.

Other notable inscriptions express hopes for national revival, lasting peace, and commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). A 206-character stele titled Record of the Japanese Surrender Archway in Zhijiang details the background of Japan’s surrender. The archway stands as a powerful symbol of victory, unity, and peace.

Zhijiang was chosen as the site for the Japanese surrender for reasons that can be summarized as, "Complete victory, convenient transportation, strong military presence, and reliable security." During the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, Zhijiang – this beautiful little city nestled among the mountains of western Hunan – served as a crucial passageway to Southwest China and a key hub connecting the rear area with the frontline. With advantageous geography and transportation links, it sat at the intersection of the Hunan-Guizhou and Sichuan-Hunan highways. More importantly, it was home to the second-largest Allied airbase in the Far East, housing over 400 combat aircraft of various types. It was the headquarters of the renowned Sino-American Joint Air Force and the Flying Tigers.

The site is an important historical testament to the enduring spirit of the Chinese nation and the global victory over fascism.