Sculpture for Flying Tigers is unveiled in Chongqing

A "Flying Tigers: A Bond Between China and the US" sculpture was unveiled at the Chongqing Global Lounge in Nan'an district, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality on Saturday.

The sculpture, symbolizing Sino-US friendship, honors the legacy of the Flying Tigers and the spirit of cooperation that defined their mission.

The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, were formed in 1941 by US General Claire Lee Chennault to help China in its fight against invading Japanese forces. At the cost of 2,000 volunteers' lives, the Flying Tigers pilots shot down more than 2,600 Japanese fighter planes, greatly assisting the fight against Japanese aggression.

Xu Shaoli, president of the American Flying Tigers Friendship Association and donor of the sculpture, explained that inspiration came from an old photograph showing Chennault with a Chinese soldier safeguarding aircraft.

"This city, rich in history and resilience, holds a special place in our hearts — not only as a symbol of China's wartime strength, but as a living testament to the friendship forged between our nations," said Patti Lou Chennault, a granddaughter of General Chennault, who attended the event. "My grandfather believed in standing by the Chinese people — not just in battle, but in spirit. That legacy lives on in events like this, where we gather not as strangers, but as friends."

Also on Saturday, a forum at the venue brought together representatives, community leaders, and friends from both China and the US to discuss friendship and collaboration.

The sculpture donation was part of the Discover Chongqing: 2025 Sino-US Cultural Exchange Event, which ended on Monday. The weekend of events aimed to deepen US understanding of Chongqing's history, culture and development through site visits and exchanges.

The sculpture is now on permanent display at the Chongqing Historic Sites Museum of the War of Resistance Against Japan.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.