Unit 731 Museum 侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆

About Unit 731 Museum

Its exhibition examines human experimentation, the development and use of biological weapons, the destruction of evidence and subsequent trials. Outside, surviving structures and ruined foundations connect that account to the original facility. The value of the visit lies in this relationship between documented evidence and place. Displays concern severe wartime atrocities, so allow time for the subject and consider children's readiness for the material.

The original site dates to 1933; most of its buildings were destroyed in August 1945, leaving the arrangement of remains seen today. The museum has a building area of 9,997 square metres and adopted its present name on 9 April 2003. A new museum building was completed on 15 August 2015, with 5,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The site covers 248,000 square metres. It entered the sixth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in 2006. In 2012, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (国家文物局) placed it on China's tentative list for World Cultural Heritage (中国世界文化遗产预备名单). A Harbin municipal regulation protecting the former site took effect on 1 November 2011, following approval by the provincial legislature.

What to look for

• The evidence exhibition's sections on biological warfare, human experimentation, destruction of evidence and trials.
• The former administration building and the ruined prison-area remains on the protected site, where visitor access is permitted.

The surrounding area

Provincial capital base for Central Street, architectural history, music and seasonal ice displays.

Location & getting there

Getting to Unit 731 Museum

Use Xinjiang Dajie station on Harbin Metro Line 1 and continue along Xinjiang Street to the museum in Pingfang District.

• Check the museum's official admission arrangements before the journey, and follow its current route between the indoor exhibition and the historic site.