At 9:00 a.m. on May 6, streams of visitors arrived at Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial to learn about the war‑torn years 89 years ago and embrace the conviction of striving loyally for the nation.

"Hello! Welcome to Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial. Congratulations—you are our 8 millionth visitor!"

Warmly greeted by staff, Shen Yirou, a sixth‑grader from Yucai Middle School in Qingpu District who was visiting with classmates for a spring social practice activity, was surprised and delighted.

"This is my first time here. I was deeply moved when I walked past the bullet‑ridden wall. I will observe and remember carefully, and share the story of the 'Eight Hundred Heroes' with more people when I return. I am extremely proud to be Chinese," she said.

After receiving a certificate of honor and cultural and creative souvenirs, the lucky visitor expressed her excitement about visiting the memorial. She first learned about the heroism of the "Eight Hundred Heroes" from the film The Eight Hundred and was thrilled to see the site in person.

Inside the memorial, precious historical materials, artifacts, and displays, including letters written by Xie Jinyuan to his wife Ling Weicheng, farewell letters left by the heroes, wax figures, and diorama models depicting their defense against Japanese troops, faithfully restore the memory of the heroes who defended the motherland with their lives. They also convey to visitors the patriotic choice of putting country before family and the noble spirit of sacrificing life for righteousness.

Located in the western part of the Former Site of the Defense of Sihang Warehouse (a national key cultural relics protection unit, former Shanghai Branch Warehouse of the Sihang Trust Department), the memorial's core exhibition centers on the Defense of Sihang Warehouse. It consists of four sections: Fierce Battle in Shanghai, Heroic Defense of Sihang Warehouse, Unyielding Resistance of the Isolated Battalion, and Immortal Monument. The exhibition tells the inspiring story of over 420 officers and soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 524th Regiment, 262nd Brigade, 88th Division of the Chinese Army, known publicly as the "Eight Hundred Heroes," who were ordered to hold Sihang Warehouse during the final stage of the August 13 Battle of Shanghai in 1937 under the banner of the Chinese United Front against Japanese Aggression and the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. It portrays the heroic group represented by Xie Jinyuan.

Since its opening in 2015, the memorial has continuously upgraded facilities, improved services, and optimized its environment. Visitor numbers and public attention have steadily risen, fully embodying its mission as a new base for patriotism education, a new platform for cross-strait exchanges, and a new continuation of the cultural heritage of Suzhou Creek Bay.

During the just-concluded May Day holiday, the memorial received more than 12,000 visitors per day on average, effectively turning "cultural traffic" into "consumer growth" and boosting the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism along the Jing'an section of the Suzhou Creek.

Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial
Address: No. 21 Guangfu Road (near Jinyuan Road)
Opening Hours: 9:00–16:30 Tuesday to Sunday (last entry at 16:00); closed on Mondays (except national holidays)
Admission: Free, no reservation required