Exhibition highlighting the 'Two Airlines Incident' opens in Tianjin

An exhibition hall showcasing the "Two Airlines Incident" opened in Tianjin on Sunday, marking a new milestone in preserving and promoting China's civil aviation history.

The inaugural event was attended by about 180 guests, including representatives from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Tianjin municipal government, Hong Kong patriotic education groups, the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Hong Kong two airlines association, and China National Aviation Holding Corporation Ltd.

The opening ceremony featured a historical short film recounting the events of the Two Airlines Uprising in 1949, when staff members from the then "China National Aviation Corporation" and "Central Air Transport Corporation" flew 12 aircraft from Hong Kong to Tianjin and Beijing.

Descendants of participants donated rare historical artifacts, while two surviving veterans of the uprising, Wang Huide and Ding Yukang, both nearly 100 years old, attended the ceremony to reflect on their experiences during the historic moment.

The exhibition hall is designed to showcase the history and significance of the "Two Airlines Uprising" through multiple formats. Visitors can explore detailed accounts of the uprising and its role in shaping China's civil aviation sector, reinforcing the legacy of patriotism and the industry's historical contributions. The exhibition also features scale models of the domestically produced C909 and C919 aircraft, along with a C919 simulator, illustrating China's aviation development from the era when pioneers of the uprising painted the national flag on aircraft to today's modern, domestically manufactured planes carrying the national emblem.

Constructed and funded by China National Aviation Holding Corporation Ltd., the exhibition hall is located at the site of the former Zhangguizhuang Airport in Tianjin. It is currently the memorial venue that fully preserves the original site and structure, using authentic artifacts and historical evidence to chronicle both the "Two Airlines Uprising" and the establishment of civil aviation in the early years of the People's Republic. The hall highlights the evolution of China's civil aviation from its foundational stages to the present, reflecting the sector's rapid growth and achievements.

The hall has been developed as a platform for patriotic education, civil aviation knowledge dissemination, and science education. It is open to the public, providing schools, universities, enterprises, and community groups with free access for learning and research. The site is intended to become a new landmark for patriotic education with a distinctive civil aviation focus.

To create the exhibition, China National Aviation Holding Corporation Ltd renovated the old terminal building and surrounding areas of Zhangguizhuang Airport, integrating local historical education resources with the narrative of the "Two Airlines Uprising". The terminal, constructed in the early 1950s with the participation of uprising veterans, later served as a maintenance workshop before falling into disuse after 2010. It is now considered one of the best-preserved former airport terminals in China.

"The exhibition hall serves as a bridge across generations, allowing the public to engage with a key chapter in China's civil aviation history while promoting patriotism and cultural confidence," according to the company.

"The 'Two Airlines Uprising' laid the foundation for civil aviation in the new China, in terms of talent, technology, and equipment. Tianjin was where many of the participants lived and worked, and the city holds most of their memories. The patriotic deeds of our parents will always inspire people in civil aviation. As the second generation, we also hope to carry forward their spirit of patriotism," said Chen Shaozeng, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong two airlines association and the son of Chen Dali, one of the pilots who took part in the uprising in 1949.

Chen donated numerous valuable artifacts to the exhibition hall.

The "Two Airlines Uprising" Exhibition Hall is set to become a key destination for public education, industry research, and historical study, honoring the achievements of China's early civil aviation pioneers and inspiring future generations to carry forward their legacy.