Sihang Warehouse — a famous site during the Battle of Shanghai
Across the Xizang Road Bridge, Sihang Warehouse came into our sight. During the Battle of Shanghai, Sihang Warehouse was the last stand for Chinese forces against the Japanese invaders and one of the bloodiest episodes of the city’s wartime history.
On October 26, 1937, Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan was ordered to lead his battalion of more than 420 officers and men to fall back to the warehouse to buy time for the full retreat of the army and to win international support by showing China’s determination to fight against Japanese invaders.
Xie falsely claimed he had 800 men, seeking to confuse and frighten the enemy. That’s why the defense force came to be called “The Eight Hundred.”
The name “Sihang” means four banks, which comes from the fact that the building was co-financed by four banks. Once a furniture warehouse and office, it was turned into Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial Museum in 2015.
The memorial provides a detailed insight into the battle, with photographs, maps, recollections, miniatures and life-sized wax models showing what life was like for those defending Shanghai.
Stand among bronze statues of soldiers and listen to Xie “talking,” you may know more about the battle and the warehouse at that time.
Today, artists have restored the battle-scarred west wall of the warehouse based on the historical footage, on which the names of “The Eight Hundred” are inscribed.
Address: 21 Guangfu Rd
Opening hours: 9am-4:30pm (closes on Monday).
Online reservation is required, visitors can apply via the “Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial Museum” WeChat account.