Bronze sculptures, cobbled path roads, towering monuments and
columns of pines give an aura of grave serenity to the a monument
and sculpture garden, a memorial to Chinese people's triumph over
the War of Resistance Against Japan during 1937-45.
Japanese troops invaded China in 1937 and killed 20 million
people.
After five years in the making, the garden opens to the public on
August 16 in Beijing.
The aura also distills more than 55 years of Chinese people's
hatred for the Japanese invaders. It speaks for hopes for a better,
more peaceful world for all people.
The 15-meter-high copper monument in the garden's central square is
made of granite and smashed tank ruins, which symbolize Chinese
people's determination to destroy invaders and protect world peace.
The central square covers 2,500 square meters, and the monument
bears President Jiang Zemin's autograph.
Inside the 22,500-square-meter sculpture area, 38 works of
traditional Chinese bronze remind visitors of the solemn, stirring
war 55 years ago.
Sculptors say the sculptures were divided into four theme groups
according to the different stages of the war.
The sculpture area radiates paths to the rest of the garden,
connoting the Chinese people's desire to destroy the Japanese
invaders.
The garden, in the Fengtai District, also has 85,600 square meters
of green space. All in all it covers 20 hectares and cost 315
million yuan (US$38 million). Some 550 families were moved to make
way for the garden.
(China Daily)