The Lushun Russo-Japanese Prison Museum (旅顺日俄监狱旧址博物馆) is a significant historical site covering an area of 26,000 square meters, with a building area of 12,521 square meters. It is one of the best-preserved and most comprehensive international heritage museums in China. Originally constructed in 1902 by Tsarist Russia, the prison was later expanded by Japan in 1907. Inside the prison walls, there were 275 cells capable of holding over 2,000 inmates at a time. The complex also included forced labor facilities such as kilns, timber yards, orchards, and vegetable gardens, where many prisoners were subjected to grueling work.
The prison has a dark history, having been the site of imprisonment and execution for numerous individuals from China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Egypt, and other countries. After undergoing restoration in July 1971, the prison site was opened to the public as a museum.
The museum features two main exhibition sections: the historical site exhibition and special exhibitions. The historical site exhibition is organized into 19 areas, including panoramic sand tables, a reception room, and cells on the east side, allowing visitors to explore the grim realities of prison life during that era. This museum serves as a crucial reminder of the harsh realities of war and the suffering endured by many.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Lushun Rosso-Japanese Prison Museum
- Vlog about Lushun Rosso-Japanese Prison Museum
- Other Attractions in Lushun
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 16.30; Closed on Mondays |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0411-86610675 |
Location and Transportation
The Lushun Rosso-Japanese Prison Museum is located at 139 Xiangyang Street, Lushunkou District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. To get there, you can take bus Lushun 205, Lushun 3, Lushun 4, Lushun 7, or Lushun 8 and get off at Yuanbaofang Stop (元宝坊站).
Highlights of Lushun Rosso-Japanese Prison Museum
Dark Cells
The Dark Cells, known as Anlao, were a grim feature of the prison, serving as a chamber of horrors for those imprisoned by the Japanese colonial authorities. Only those who dared to resist or were considered serious violators of prison rules were sent here. Each dark cell measures 1.7 meters in length, 1.45 meters in width, and 2.38 meters in height, with a floor area of 2.4 square meters. Inmates placed in these cells were subjected to special restraints and were fed the lowest-quality prison meals.
Inside the dark cells, there was no light, leaving the inmates in complete darkness. The only light source was a small observation hole that was opened only when guards checked on the prisoners. Detainees could be confined here for as little as 3 to 5 days or as long as a week. The absence of light caused severe damage to their eyesight, and many emerged from the cells blinded or with permanently impaired vision.
Execution Chamber
The Execution Chamber, located in the northeast corner of the prison, was established in 1934 as a secret site for executions. The exact number of people killed here remains unknown, as all records were destroyed by the prison authorities. However, it is documented that over 700 individuals were brutally executed between August 1942 and August 1945. Notably, on August 16, 1945 – the day after Japan’s surrender was announced – prison director Tanzi Renlang oversaw the secret hanging of Liu Fengchuan, a spy from Yan’an, along with six other resistance fighters.
Prison Cemetery Restoration Display
The prison cemetery is situated on the eastern hillside of the prison grounds. Originally, this area consisted of over three acres of barren land, where five long ditches were dug in advance, each nearly a hundred meters long, to hold wooden barrels containing the bodies of executed prisoners. Once all five ditches were filled, the remains would be exhumed and relocated elsewhere, while new bodies were buried in the original spots. This macabre practice repeated throughout Japan’s 40-year rule over Dalian, making it impossible to ascertain the exact number of victims buried there.
Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, the number of executions increased significantly. Initially, both the deceased and the barrels were buried together, but as the death toll rose, the barrels were modified to create an opening for the bodies, allowing the containers to be reused. In 1971, during the establishment of the prison exhibition hall, workers excavated the cemetery and uncovered six barrels containing remains within just a five-meter stretch. For the convenience of visitors, these barrels were moved to create a restored display of the prison cemetery.
