Pianma Anti-British Monument and Museum, Nujiang

Why is Pianma Anti-British Monument and Museum So Special?

Covering an area of 950 square metres, with a height of 20 meters, Pianma Anti-British Monument, consists of 3 swords and 3 shields, meaning the great unity of Han, Lisu and Nu people to fight against British troops. 

Where is Pianma Anti-British Monument and Museum - Location

It is located in Pianma Town of Lushui County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan. 

History and Culture

After swallowing up Myanmar in 1986, British Empire tried to invade China. British Empire imposed a series of unequal treaties upon China during Guangxu 12 years of Qing Dynasty(A.D. 1886). British troops occupied Pianma area in Xuantong year (A.D. 1910, December 26th ), making use of the ignorance of the officials sent by Qing government, they forced Qing government to divide line with Gaoligongshan Mountain in the unequal treaty.

Local ethnic people struggled against strong resistance in the crisis of Pianma, they united an army made up of Lisu, Nu, Jingpo and Dulong ethnic group, which is equipped with Suoyi (蓑衣), crossbow, broadsword, and spear to fight against British invaders in the primitive forest. They gave a hard hit to the troops, the latter fled to Gulang(古浪). This army was called “Suoyi Soldiers(蓑衣兵)” by the local people. The news spread across the whole country, Yunnan provincial official and Qing government raised a protest against British Empire, ordered all the villages to organize a civil corps to combat with British. The civil corps equipped with crossbow and broadsword, named "Crossbow Soldiers(弩弓队)", then they joined with“Suoyi Soldiers(蓑衣兵)”. They attacked enemies at night, poisoned them and cut their water supply, so as to compel the British to have a meeting with China, admitting that Pianma(片马), Gulang(古浪), and Gangfang(岗房) is part of China. After the Revolution of 1911, a patriotic general of Yunnan Army, Li Genyuan(李根源), lead troops to station troops in Nujiang, breaking the conspiracy of British invaders.

In 1960, China and Myanmar signed a treaty on the land border between the two sides, Pianma finally returned to motherland. When Hu Yaobang(胡耀邦同志) made an inspection tour in Pianma, he thought highly of the spirit of resistance among the local ethnic group, meanwhile, he suggested to build a monument, and inscribed for the monument ”片马人民抗英胜利纪念碑”.

Pianma Museum

Apart from the special nature in the Gaoligong mountain range, Pianma has two small museum dedicated to historic events in the area. Pianma Museum is a famous WWII Museum in Pianma, Yunnan.

The Nujiang Tuofeng Aerial Line Memorial Hall housing "CNAC #53" the rebuild Douglas C53 of the China National Aviation Corporation which took part in the "Hump" flights to transports war supplies to and from China.

The "Pianma Anti British Victory museum" dedicated to the border dispute between colonial Britain and China known as the Pianma Event.

How to Get there

We can take a local mini-bus at Liuku Bus Station to Pianma, around 100 KM. It's 580km from Kunming to Liuku. Express and sleeper buses leaving from Kunming daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, 13hrs ride. There are also buses from Dali(8hrs) and Baoshan(4hrs) to Liuku. Or take the bus to Lushui and then transfer to Pianma County.