China Travel

The best place to get a clear understanding of the Opium wars from a Chinese perspective, the Opium War Museum records not only the history of the events, but commemorates Lin Zexu, the Ming-era official who fanned the flames of the conflict by disposing of nearly 1,200 metric tons (2,619,372 pounds) of British opium at Humen Beach in 1839. Enraged by Lin's defiance and the huge economic losses resulting from the destruction of their product, the Brits brought their superior weaponry and naval tactics to bear on Canton, thus firing the first shots of the Opium Wars. You'll find lots of fascinating info here, as well as many conspicuously-displayed, patriotic calls for Chinese to help fight the war on drugs.   

 

Set in the Humen Fortress, the museum is distributed into three general sections; the museum, the Shajiao Emplacement and the Weyuan Emplacement. The museum details, through a variety of technologies and media, the unfolding of the war. Some of Li Zexu's couplets and slogans, as well as opium smoking sets, cannons, spears, long swords and 3,000 other objects are also displayed. Also of interest are the bronze statue of Lin Zexu and the site of the two pits where Lin Zexu had Great Britain's precious opium destroyed.