Living Underground: Bomb Shelters and Daily Lives in Wartime Chongqing (1937–1945)

What is it about?

Because of Japan’s large-scale aerial bombing of Chongqing and the surrounding mountainous natural environment during the Anti-Japanese War, shelters became important places where the residents of wartime Chongqing evaded attacks by Japanese planes. Shelters, especially public shelters, also provided places for socializing, recreation, and they had political and economic functions. Thus, bomb shelters became new public living spaces. Living in bomb shelters also became an important component of the daily lives of the residents in wartime Chongqing.

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Why is it important?

Compared with the bombings of London, Berlin and Tokyo during the Second World War, although there were fewer casualties from the bombings of Chongqing, the area was bombed for the longest time period ever worldwide. Bomb shelters were important places for evading Japanese air attacks, making friends, relaxing, working and even studying. Discussing citizens’ lives inside the shelters not only allows us to understand and know the diversity and complexity of the daily lives of Chongqing’s wartime citizens but also reveals the significant impact of the all-encompassing invasion waged by Japan on Chongqing residents at the micro level.