Flying Tigers artifacts donated to keep history alive

The Flying Tigers Historical Association donated 80 relics to the Relic Park of Yangtang Airport for Flying Tigers on Tuesday in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Wang Zhanfei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Liao Pinhu, vice-governor of the region, said the legacy of the Flying Tigers continues to be passed down generation after generation, both in China and the US. To remind the younger generation of this precious history of aid and mutual friendship, Guangxi has been renovating many relics.

"We built the park in Guilin and held an exhibition for the US Flying Tigers at the Liuzhou Military Museum. We continue to check on veterans and collect historical materials to extend and expand the friendship we established during our side-by-side fight," Liao said.

Currently in the park, 255 items are donated by the historical association, including military uniforms, medals and old photographs.

The memorial hall of the park uses audio-visual exhibition display technology that combines pictures, cultural relics and models to tell the story of the Flying Tigers in Guilin.

In the aircraft hall, the last C-47 transport plane that flew over the famed "hump route" is housed. It was purchased from Australia by the organization.

According to the local government, the park attracts around 100,000 visitors each year. Nearly 100 veterans of the Flying Tigers and their families and friends from the United States came to pay tribute at the donation ceremony on Tuesday.

The park has become an important place to review history and remember the symbol of friendship between the people of China and the United States.

Ma Kuanchi, vice-president of the FTHO, said he will work to expand the park's collection further and facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and the US — particularly among young people.