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Home » City specials » Qingdao
Navy museum draws military buffs
By Tan Weiyun |
September 18, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
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AS the home of a major naval base, Qingdao boasts a large and specialized museum of China's naval history that delights military buffs who can also tour ships and a submarine. Tan Weiyun reports.
Situated on the spectacular shoreline, the Qingdao Naval Museum is a must-see for military and navy buffs, those who love history, battles and weapons.
The large-scale museum, which opened 21 years ago near a major naval base, is the only officially recognized military museum of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
The museum is on Laiyang Road at Qingdao Bay, and sailors in crisp white uniforms can be seen on nearby streets.
It is dedicated to preserving and displaying China's naval heritage as well as retired weaponry and equipment of all kinds: vessels, aircraft, artillery, radar, underwater weapons, amphibious tanks and other arms.
Some exhibits are of great historical value since they served late Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, Xiao Jianguang (founder of the Chinese Navy) and some international allies.
The collection includes more than 30,000 documentary pictures of the Chinese navy in ancient and modern times, more than 1,000 items such as uniforms, badges, rank insignia and state gifts presented by foreign countries.
The highlights in the maritime exhibition area are retired vessels, including four warships and one submarine, which can be toured.
The various uniforms over the years are fascinating. The simple uniform of 1950 was made of cotton and was worn by sailors at the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
The 1955 uniform was copied from the former Soviet Union but the hat was smaller and more practical. The 1965 uniform was designed for the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) and bears no rank insignia as during that time traditional signs of rank were abolished.
The only way to tell a high-ranking officer from an ordinary sailor was the number of pockets -- four for officers, two for sailors (the same for soldiers).
It was not until 1987 that the military rank was restored and new uniforms were issued.
A special exhibition displays items once used or owned by Xiao Jingguang (1903-89), former commander of the Chinese Navy, deputy defense minister and one of China's top 10 founding generals. His uniform, sword, spyglass, pen and cups are displayed.
Nearby is a large bullet-riddled tree branch with 35 bullet holes; it was a witness to the protracted Battle of Triangle Hill in 1952 during the Korean War.
The outdoor exhibition area displays the torpedo boat that late Premier Zhou Enlai once took to review the naval fleet forces stationed in Qingdao; the JL-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile that late Chairman Deng Xiaoping inspected; the HQ-61B surface-to-air missile inspected by former Chairman Jiang Zemin; and the special plane and Red Flag sedan of Commander Xiao Jingguang.
It exhibits the first generation of Chinese naval sea planes, the first destroyer of the Chinese PLA Navy known as the Anshan and the first cannon-class escort vessel, the frigate Nanchong, which was developed entirely by China.
The 28-ton Liberation Gunboat has a story to tell. It provided fire support during a battle between the PLA and the Kuomingtang in March 1950 on Ma Bay of Lajiwei Island in Guangdong Province.
The boat was the first to launch an offensive against more than 20 warships of the Kuomingtang's third fleet. The Liberation took more than 100 hits and 19 sailors died. Captain Liang Kuiting piloted the gunboat to break through a tight encirclement and returned to base.
The Mosquito boat, which Premier Zhou Enlai once took, is China's first domestically made wooden hull torpedo boat, commissioned in 1956, with a speed of 43 knots.
Aircraft No. 9232 is a Soviet-made IL-14 double-prop passenger craft presented to Chairman Mao on his 65th birthday by former Soviet leaders. In 1960, it became the exclusive plane of Commander Xiao.
Open: 8am-6pm
Address: 8 Laiyang Rd
Admission: 60 yuan (80 yuan with submarine tour)
Situated on the spectacular shoreline, the Qingdao Naval Museum is a must-see for military and navy buffs, those who love history, battles and weapons.
The large-scale museum, which opened 21 years ago near a major naval base, is the only officially recognized military museum of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
The museum is on Laiyang Road at Qingdao Bay, and sailors in crisp white uniforms can be seen on nearby streets.
It is dedicated to preserving and displaying China's naval heritage as well as retired weaponry and equipment of all kinds: vessels, aircraft, artillery, radar, underwater weapons, amphibious tanks and other arms.
Some exhibits are of great historical value since they served late Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, Xiao Jianguang (founder of the Chinese Navy) and some international allies.
The collection includes more than 30,000 documentary pictures of the Chinese navy in ancient and modern times, more than 1,000 items such as uniforms, badges, rank insignia and state gifts presented by foreign countries.
The highlights in the maritime exhibition area are retired vessels, including four warships and one submarine, which can be toured.
The various uniforms over the years are fascinating. The simple uniform of 1950 was made of cotton and was worn by sailors at the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
The 1955 uniform was copied from the former Soviet Union but the hat was smaller and more practical. The 1965 uniform was designed for the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) and bears no rank insignia as during that time traditional signs of rank were abolished.
The only way to tell a high-ranking officer from an ordinary sailor was the number of pockets -- four for officers, two for sailors (the same for soldiers).
It was not until 1987 that the military rank was restored and new uniforms were issued.
A special exhibition displays items once used or owned by Xiao Jingguang (1903-89), former commander of the Chinese Navy, deputy defense minister and one of China's top 10 founding generals. His uniform, sword, spyglass, pen and cups are displayed.
Nearby is a large bullet-riddled tree branch with 35 bullet holes; it was a witness to the protracted Battle of Triangle Hill in 1952 during the Korean War.
The outdoor exhibition area displays the torpedo boat that late Premier Zhou Enlai once took to review the naval fleet forces stationed in Qingdao; the JL-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile that late Chairman Deng Xiaoping inspected; the HQ-61B surface-to-air missile inspected by former Chairman Jiang Zemin; and the special plane and Red Flag sedan of Commander Xiao Jingguang.
It exhibits the first generation of Chinese naval sea planes, the first destroyer of the Chinese PLA Navy known as the Anshan and the first cannon-class escort vessel, the frigate Nanchong, which was developed entirely by China.
The 28-ton Liberation Gunboat has a story to tell. It provided fire support during a battle between the PLA and the Kuomingtang in March 1950 on Ma Bay of Lajiwei Island in Guangdong Province.
The boat was the first to launch an offensive against more than 20 warships of the Kuomingtang's third fleet. The Liberation took more than 100 hits and 19 sailors died. Captain Liang Kuiting piloted the gunboat to break through a tight encirclement and returned to base.
The Mosquito boat, which Premier Zhou Enlai once took, is China's first domestically made wooden hull torpedo boat, commissioned in 1956, with a speed of 43 knots.
Aircraft No. 9232 is a Soviet-made IL-14 double-prop passenger craft presented to Chairman Mao on his 65th birthday by former Soviet leaders. In 1960, it became the exclusive plane of Commander Xiao.
Open: 8am-6pm
Address: 8 Laiyang Rd
Admission: 60 yuan (80 yuan with submarine tour)
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