The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders

This memorial hall stands on the site of the massacre at Jiangdong Gate during the Nanjing Massacre and “Mass Grave of 10,000 Corpses”. It was completed and opened to the public in August, 1985, and was expanded first from 1994 to 1995, and then from 2005 to 2007. It covers an area of about 74,000 square meters with a floor space of 25,000 square meters and an exhibition area of 9,800 square meters. The new memorial hall was completed and opened to the public on December 13, 2007, the 70th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, which claimed 300,000 Chinese victims. The new hall is shaped like the bow of a ship that rises high above the ground, representing ‘the Ship of Peace’. Its profile looks like a broken saber. Seen from above, it resembles a sword turned into a plowshare. The new hall was designed by architect He Jingtang from South China University of Technology while the old by architect Qi Kang from Southeast University.  Both designs are distinctive in style and innovation. 

Functionally it is divided into four areas, namely the area for exhibition and assembly, the site of the massacre, Peace Park, and an area for collection-related exchange. It is a site-based memorial museum of history. It is also a Demonstration Base for National Patriotic Education and Cultural Relics under the Protection of the State.