The Gibraltar of the East: A Solemn Journey to the Songshan Battle Site

The "Gibraltar of the East" on the Burma Road

1.Located in Lamo: Township, Longling County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, the Songshan Battle Site stands as one of the most significant and well-preserved battlefields from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (World War II). Situated on the west bank of the Nujiang River (Salween River), Songshan (Pine Mountain) towers over the Huitong Bridge, a critical choke point on the Burma Road, which was China's lifeline for international supplies during the war. Due to its perilous terrain and formidable fortifications constructed by the Japanese army, it was known as the "Gibraltar of the East." Today, the site covers a core area of approximately 10 square kilometers with a main peak altitude of 2,200 meters. It serves not only as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit but also as a profound patriotic education base, drawing visitors to witness the "scars of war" that remain etched into the mountain.

The Bloody Battle of 1944

2.The history of: Songshan is defined by the brutal 100-day siege in 1944. In 1942, Japanese forces captured the area and spent two years turning the mountain into a complex fortress system, complete with permanent bunkers, trenches, and underground tunnels. In June 1944, the Chinese Expeditionary Force launched a massive counter-offensive to retake Songshan and reopen the Burma Road. The battle was gruesome, involving fierce trench warfare and uphill assaults against dug-in machine-gun positions. The turning point came when Chinese sappers dug tunnels underneath the main Japanese positions at the "Mother and Child" Forts (Zi Mu Bao) and detonated tons of TNT, obliterating the peak and the enemy forces within. The victory at Songshan was a pivotal moment in the Western Yunnan Campaign, leading to the eventual recovery of Longling and Tengchong, though it came at the cost of over 7,700 Chinese casualties.

Walking Through History's Trenches

Unlike many museums that present history behind glass, Songshan offers a visceral, open-air experience. Visitors can walk along the original trenches that crisscross the mountain slopes, which have been preserved in their zigzagging patterns. The site is dotted with the ruins of Japanese bunkers, visible as concrete shells and collapsed earthworks. The most striking feature is the massive explosion craters at the summit of the Zi Mu Bao, a silent testament to the destructive power unleashed during the final assault. Old trees on the mountain still bear the marks of shrapnel and bullets, living witnesses to the intensity of the combat. Walking these paths, surrounded by the silence of the pine forest, visitors can almost hear the echoes of the past, offering a deeply moving connection to the soldiers who fought and died here.

A Tribute to the Heroes

In addition to the battlefield ruins, the site features the Songshan Battle Memorial Park. Here, visitors will find the Expeditionary Force Sculpture Park, home to 402 sculptures representing the diverse soldiers of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, including child soldiers, veterans, and allied advisors. These life-sized statues, arranged in formation, gaze towards the recovering motherland, creating a powerful visual impact. The Monument to the Fallen stands tall, inscribed with the names of the heroes, serving as a focal point for memorial services. The site allows for a comprehensive understanding of the "Songshan Spirit"—a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of the Chinese people in the face of aggression. From the viewing platforms, one can also overlook the deep Nujiang Grand Canyon, appreciating the strategic nightmare the soldiers faced in this rugged terrain.