Legacy of courage

Standing alongside Suzhou Creek in central Shanghai, the Sihang Warehouse Memorial Hall has weathered nearly a century of history. Its bullet-scarred west wall still bears silent witness to one of the most inspiring battles of resistance during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

The former warehouse's name, "Sihang", means "four banks" in Chinese and was originally established by four leading Chinese financial institutions in the 1930s: Yienyieh Bank, Kincheng Bank, China & South Sea Bank, and Continental Bank.

In October 1937, Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan led approximately 420 Chinese soldiers in defending their strategic position against Japanese forces. These defenders held their ground at the Sihang Warehouse for four days and nights, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.

"While the four-day defense may seem brief in the broader context of the war, its impact was profound," says Ma Youjiong, curator of the Sihang Warehouse Memorial Hall.

"The battle took place in the heart of Shanghai, adjacent to the international settlement, and was witnessed by both Chinese citizens and foreigners. Coming at a time when Chinese forces had suffered many setbacks, this display of determined resistance greatly boosted public morale," he adds.

"This warehouse will be the tomb of all 420 soldiers. As long as one man remains, we will fight to the death," the lieutenant colonel told his men before the battle, according to accounts in a memoir by his son Xie Jimin.