A guided tour

To extend the historical experience beyond museum walls, the memorial launched a guided citywalk route themed around the battle, which was developed with the local cultural organization SimpliCity. The route enables visitors to retrace the footsteps of the defenders along Suzhou Creek.

The route encompasses the Xizang Road Bridge, the former Bank of China warehouse, and locations depicting the Chinese defenders' withdrawal to their military camp.

"We've researched these sites along the route over the past few years in collaboration with the memorial hall," says Zhu Yining, CEO of SimpliCity. "When registration opened for the walks, spots filled within five minutes, far exceeding our expectations."

The walking tour aims to make history more accessible and engaging, particularly for younger generations and international visitors. "History should not remain confined to textbooks or museums. By retracing the actual footsteps through real places, everyone can tangibly walk through history," Zhu says.

Eight tours are scheduled this year, including two English-language sessions for foreign visitors, Zhu says. "Many participants are parents with their children. We've been impressed by the young people's knowledge and engagement on the route."