Historical Events of Wanzhou District

Historical Events of Wanzhou District - Established as a Foreign Trade Port

Chongqing Custom controlled by Britain formally established a branch department at Jinjiangtai, which located in the east of the Wanzhou town city, in February, 1917. The Duan Qirui Government announced that Wanzhou District was opened to foreign trade in June, 1925. Since then Wanzhou became the second open port which could import and export directly in Sichuan province. Yang Shen established Wanzhou County as a city and he acted as the major. He carried out new deal, and started urban construction radically. He appointed Ren Haixian who once studied in Japan as the engineer to plan a new city on the base of the old town city. They reconditioned 12 macadam roads successively (such as the ring road, the Civilization Road, the Great Wall Road, and so on). They built Wanan Bridge and Fuxing Bridge, and developed two new markets- the Bell and Drum Tower and the Nanjin Street. They constructed the Xishan Park, and built a tall Western-style Bell Tower which is the third biggest tower along the Yangtze River. The Western-style Bell Tower is also a landmark of the Wanzhou County. They also rectified the appearance of the city, planned residence and commerce areas, and built public lavatory. The ancient town got a makeover and the business there became more prosperous. Wanzhou jumped to be one of the three biggest cities in Sichuan province.

Historical Events of Wanzhou District - Wanzhou Massacre

The Massacre on September 5-The warship of the British imperialism bombarded the town city of Wanzhou and massacred the army and civilians there in 1926.

With the successful development of the Northern Expedition and the upsurge of the revolutionary movement, the imperialism intensified the interference of Chinese revolution. Britain had the most special rights in the Yangtze valley. They took use of their inland navigation rights sank the Chinese boats many times.

A business ship named Wanliu belonged to a British company speeded up intentionally on August 29, 1926, that leaded to the sink of the 3 wooden boat belonged to Yang Shen. About 85 thousand Yuan and 50 firearms sank into the river and 50 people lost their lives in that “accident”. Yang Shen decided to protest against the British Consulate and ordered his army prepare for a battle after a discussion with Zhu De and Chen Yi. Yang Shen detained two ships belonged to that British company when they arrived at Wanzhou from Chongqing on August 30. The British Consulate delivered an ultimatum upon Yang Shen, required him to release the two ships. The British Consulate arranged three ships stormed into Wanzhou and grasped the two ships by force on September 5. Yang Shen’s troop hit back. The British warships bombarded the densely populated town city three hours. The totally fired more than 300 of incendiary bombs and shells. Thousand of soldiers and citizens were injured and dead. More than 1000 of people’s houses and shops were destroyed. This is the Wanzhou Massacre.

The International Communist Fighter - Kulishenko Sacrificed in Wanzhou District

Kulishenko leaded the long-range bombers volunteer group came to China from the Soviet Union in May 1939. He is a Ukrainian, an outstanding Communist Party member and a Major in the Air Force. He was called “tiger” since he has a quality of integrity and a combat style of long-suffering, braveness and brawniness.

Kulishenko and Kozloff headed one swing teams respectively. The two teems were equipped with long-range bombers. Their arrival brought great encouragements to the people in the cities bombed by Japan, such as Chongqing, Xian, and Chengdu.

They air forces headed by them kept fighting with Japan and training the members of China’s Air Force. They kept selfless fighting and labor with their proletarian internationalism and fearless spirit of self-sacrifice.

Kulishenko often told his cadets that the plane is the property of the state, and the plane is strongly needed in China’s anti-Japan war. It is very difficult to transport a plane from Soviet Union to China. If you damaged one, less one could take part in the war. If a component is damaged, it could only be replenished from the remote Soviet Union. Nine times out of ten he returns safely.

In mid-August 1939, Kulishenko accepted the bombing tasks after he finished the training job. They flied to Wuhan which is occupied by Japanese. They returned safely after they bombed the Japanese’s military installations successfully. Under his guidance, the team blew up 60 helicopters of Japan. On October 14, he leaded his team engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the Japanese fighter planes supplied by Germany. Kulishenko’s team blew up 6 pursuit planes and 103 planes. The enemy put their focus on his leader plane; his left engine was strongly hit, and he was forced to return.

He got out the tight encirclement with a single engine and flew along the Yangtze River toward the west. When he reached the sky above Wanzhou, the plane lost its balance and couldn’t fly any more. To maintain the integrity of the plane and took the Wanzhou people’s safty, Kulishenko made a smooth landing in the river. Before the plane sink into the river, he told his members to take off their suit and swim toward the bank. He also asked them to remember the special marks on the bank. That would contribute to the dragging of the plane.

Kulishenko’s members survived while he was swallowed by the water for excessive fatigue. One month later, his plane was dragged out entirely. He is a great son of the Soviet Union people, a great internationalism fighter, and a faithful friend of Chinese People. He devoted his life to the Chinese national liberation. The Wanzhou People built a cemetery of revolutionary martyrs for Kulishenko in Xishan Park. His epic deed is widely spread in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and his relatives also have paid their respect to him in Wanzhou.

In September 2009, Kulishenko was elected one of the 100 models who made outstanding contributions to the found of New China.