A history of resistance

Nearby 204 Heights, a strategic choke-point where some of the fiercest combats occurred, remains scarred with trenches. In September last year, a 2.6-km trail, including a 1-km wooden walkway and 1-km gravel path, was created to allow visitors to retrace the steps of the heroes.

"Schools organize trips for primary and secondary students to walk this heroic path, and engage in patriotic education to appreciate the harshness of war, as well as the sacrifice and efforts responsible for the good lives we lead today," says Yin Bin, Xinkou county Party secretary.

Although listed as a provincial patriotism education center in 2005, and designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2019, recognition of Xinkou's historical significance still lags, according to Zhao Wenjun, deputy director of the cultural and tourism bureau in Xinfu district, where the site is located.