Chongqing - In Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the air raid shelter holds a unique significance. During wartime, these shelters were excavated to protect the people of the mountainous city from Japanese air raids. In times of peace, these shelters have evolved into various forms, serving the residents' economic and social development and leisure lives.
Since 2018 Chongqing has been delving into the historical significance of Chongqing's air raid shelters, utilizing their distinct characteristics. These shelters have expanded to include hot pot restaurants, wine cellars, gas stations, parking lots, museums, bookstores, car washes, snack shops, and more. The annual number of visitors to these shelters has surpassed one million, providing jobs for over 100,000 people.
The bottomless pit became a treasure trove
What was once considered a "bottomless pit" for financial investment has now transformed into a "treasure trove" for businesses, thanks to the restoration and protection efforts in recent years. These air raid shelters have become a distinct feature of Chongqing's identity, with various creative uses.
One notable example is the Brother Jun Bookstore, within an air raid shelter in Jiulongpo District. It has gained significant popularity, attracting visitors nationwide who "check in" at this unique location. The owner, Gou Jun, views the air raid shelter as a valuable urban resource, showcasing Chongqing's historical culture to everyone visiting.
The Brother Junge Bookstore. (Photo/Fan Yonggen)
During the summer vacation, the bookstore's popularity is even higher. Many tourists from other regions visit, some carrying luggage, and enjoy spending half a day in the cool shelter. Gou Jun shared a heartwarming story of a tourist who traveled over a hundred kilometers with her daughter to visit the bookstore, fearing it might be closed when they arrived.
In addition to being a popular "check-in" spot, the bookstore hosts various reading and storytelling events, spreading Chongqing's rich historical and cultural heritage and sometimes acting as a community learning center.
Developing cultural tourism in air raid shelters
Imagine turning a real air raid shelter over 3,000 square meters into a futuristic-themed attraction. This imaginative transformation has become a reality in Shapingba District, where an old air raid shelter has been brilliantly repurposed.
Yang Min, a resident, recalls how the area used to be littered with trash, and people would quickly leave when passing by. Shapingba District's civil defense department reinforced the shelter's structure, and a culture and tourism company customized the systems, including ventilation and waterproofing, turning the dilapidated and damp "abandoned cave" into a "future ruins science fiction-themed attraction."
This innovative transformation has successfully captured the attention of citizens and tourists, especially young people. Since its opening in March of this year, Shapingba Cave Ship No.1, the theme attraction, has welcomed over 180,000 visitors. After visiting once, many primary and secondary school students return with their friends.
The general manager of Cave Ship No.1, Liu Yan, emphasized that the attraction has become a popular cultural and tourism project and brought substantial tourism resources to the Shapingba District, attracting significant investment and driving the development of surrounding industries.
A more tangible history
The Chongqing air raid shelter that survived the tragic Chongqing Bomb now sits adjacent to the Ciqi pedestrian street at the core of the Jiefangbei district, where the streets are always bustling with citizens and tourists. However, in the past, very few could glimpse its true nature; they could only glimpse a stone monument from the ground.
After 80 years, the underground air raid tunnel beneath the site was opened to the public for the first time in September 2021. More and more people now have the opportunity to step into the tunnel, gaining a deeper understanding of its history.
"This place vividly recreates the spirit of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the local culture of Chongqing, making the history of the war tangible and accessible. It's a 'living textbook' that is worth revisiting, and that's why we have included it in our primary and secondary school extracurricular activities," said Chen Hao, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of Yuzhong District.
On August 8th, as citizens and tourists like He Renyong and his 9-year-old son, He Haoran, visited the site of the "bombing of Chongqing," the young boy, Haoran, said to his father after the tour, "Today, I felt like I was truly experiencing the scenes and feelings of those who had to hide from the bombings. We must study hard to protect our country and people as we grow up."