Zhazidong Prison Historical Site
Zhazidong Prison Historical Site Highlights
Zhazidong Prison, located in Chongqing’s Gele Mountain, was originally a small, manually operated coal mine, earning its name due to the poor quality of its coal, which was more slag than substance.
In 1943, the Nationalist military (KMT) converted it into a prison to hold communist politicians.
Today, Zhazidong Prison is a must-see historical site, along with Baigongguan Historial Site, for visitors to learn the heavy chapter of Chongqing’s history.
Zhazidong Prison Historical Site Operating Hours
Last admission at 4:30 PM.
Closed - Open Sunday at 9:00 AM
Operating Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Information is provided for reference only. Do not solely rely on this.
Getting to Zhazidong Prison
Line 1
- Take Metro Line 1
- Get off at Ciqikou Station
- Take Exit 1
- Walk to Guidao Ciqikou Bus Station
- Take the tour bus T198
- Get off at Zhazidong Prison Station
Bus
Tour bus T198 travels between different historical sites on Gele Mountain, including Zhazidong Prison, the White Residence Former Site, Hongyanhun Square, 1949 Theater, and Ciqikou bus station.
Consider taking another bus or metro to transfer to T198 at Guidao Ciqikou Station.
Driving
Navigate to Zhazidong Scenic Area
Drive Time: 30 minutes
Parking
Paid parking is available right beside the Zhazidong Prison entrance.
Zhazidon Prison Historical Site Facilities
Restroom
Restroom available at the historical site.
Drone
Drone is not permitted at this location.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted at this location.
Accessibility
Zhazidong Prison is a historical site that does not offer adaptive facilities to help people with mobility needs.
Zhazidong Prison History
Zhazidong, originally a small, manually operated coal mine, earned its name due to the poor quality of its coal, which was more slag than substance. Nestled in a rugged, concealed location—surrounded by mountains on three sides and a ravine on the fourth—it was an ideal site for secrecy.
In 1943, the Nationalist military (KMT) seized the coal mine and converted it into a detention center.
The inner compound housed 16 rooms in a two-story building for male prisoners and two single-story rooms for female prisoners, holding over 300 captives in total.
The prison was briefly shut down in April 1947 but reopened in December of the same year to resume detaining prisoners.
The outer walls of the prison were plastered with slogans aimed at “assimilating” the guards and agents, such as: “What the commander cannot see, think, hear, or do, we must see, think, hear, and do for the commander,” “Orders outweigh life, and the workplace is your family,” alongside the Nationalist Party’s code of conduct.
Inside, the walls bore slogans designed to break the will of revolutionary prisoners, like: “Youth, once gone, never returns; think carefully, recognize this moment and place, and do not cling to delusions,” and “The sea of confusion is boundless; turn back to find the shore…”.
The prison was notorious for its brutal torture chambers, where Communist leaders and other prisoners endured horrific interrogations with instruments of torture. During the November executions, prisoners were deceived into believing they were being transferred out of the facility. As cell doors opened, guards mowed them down with machine guns, and survivors were shot in the head.
Amid the chaos, approximately 15 prisoners managed to escape by breaking through a section of the wall and crossing a courtyard.
This grim chapter of history makes Zhazidong a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for their beliefs in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
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