Digging for true war stories

"Visitors can have an immersive experience so they understand that each season posed different challenges for the soldiers in the mountains of Northeast China," says Meng.

"It rained frequently in the spring, so they found it easier to find potherbs as food, but the underground houses were extremely humid. Summer was also humid, and sunlight could not filter into the houses. Autumn signified the coming winter, when the mountains were covered with heavy snow. They had to keep warm and forage for food while taking part in the battles," he adds.

Meng mentions this is another time they have organized such a large-scale exhibition based on archaeological research at Hongshilazi outside Jilin. The first exhibition was held in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, in 2023.

"We want to honor the wishes of the soldiers. First, they longed to see Yan'an, the settlement of the CPC Central Committee at the time, a sacred place in their hearts; then to Beijing, to see the New China they sacrificed their lives to establish, and to tell them we finally obtained victory," says Meng.

Li Xueqing contributed to this story.