On October 16th, we commemorate the 60th anniversary of China’s first successful atomic bomb detonation. Sixty years ago, a massive mushroom cloud billowed into the sky above Lop Nur, marking the “Eastern Giant’s Roar” that astonished the world. Today, at the Atomic City, China’s first nuclear weapon development base, visitors are flocking to honor the spirit of “Two Bombs, One Satellite,” a testament engraved in the annals of New China’s history, reflecting the immense strength encapsulated in the spirit of the Chinese Communist Party.
At the foot of the Qilian Mountains, the biting cold winds sweep across the Golden and Silver Beach grasslands. Inside the steel-structured “596” theme corridor at the Atomic City Memorial Park in Haiyan County, Qinghai Province, statues commemorate 23 laureates of the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” merit medal, while the names of 31,564 workers who contributed to this monumental task are etched along the walls.
Sixty years ago, we resolutely announced to the world: the Chinese people, relying on their own strength, have mastered atomic bomb technology, effectively breaking through the nuclear monopoly and coercion of superpowers.
Great endeavors forge great spirits. Hu Sided, former president of the China Engineering Physics Research Institute, remarked that under the strong leadership of the Party, we created the miracle of “Two Bombs, One Satellite” despite immense challenges. This effort birthed the enduring spirit characterized by “patriotism, selfless dedication, self-reliance, hard work, collaboration, and the courage to climb.”
Today, within China’s Atomic City—the place where our nation holds its head high—we gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and challenges that have marked the Chinese journey from standing up to getting rich, and now to becoming strong.
From Qian Xuesen’s steadfast belief that “the purpose of life is to serve the people” to Wang Gan Chang’s declaration, “I wish to dedicate myself to the country,” the early developers of “Two Bombs, One Satellite” unfurled the flag of patriotism, consciously linking personal aspirations to national rejuvenation. Their love for the country translated into tangible actions promoting the strength of the nation.
Behind the beautiful name of Golden and Silver Beach lies an elevation of over 3,200 meters, an average temperature of only 0.4 degrees Celsius, and an environment marked by high altitude and low oxygen levels. People from all corners of the country, in the absence of blueprints and detailed information, worked alongside the Gobi Desert. In an environment lacking advanced equipment, scientists utilized hand-cranked calculators to process thousands of data; during the pouring of explosives into aluminum pots, thick masks were donned to mitigate the noxious gases produced by chemical reactions; when cutting explosives, technicians used basins filled with water to cool the materials and avert explosions.
More than a thousand farming and pastoral households were relocated from their ancestral grasslands at Golden and Silver Beach. An 86-year-old Tibetan elder, Angba, who resides in Dayurixiu Village, Qinghai Lake Township, recalls those years with tears in his eyes: “For the Republic’s defense, many herders drove their cattle and sheep, moving their families without a single complaint.”
The echoes of past struggles intertwine with the footsteps of future dreamers, as the spirit of Chinese Communists continues to be passed down through the ages. Ma Qingfang, curator of the Qinghai Atomic City Museum, shared that since its opening, the venue has welcomed over 4 million visitors, with 272,000 coming just between January and September of this year.
“An atomic bomb is not merely a weapon; it symbolizes the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation,” said Kong Qingrong, an associate professor at Qinghai Normal University, emotionally reflecting on the achievements of “Two Bombs, One Satellite.” These endeavors inspire ambition, bolster resilience, and enhance our determination.
From missiles to atomic and hydrogen bombs, and onto artificial satellites, successive generations of Chinese scientists have risen to the challenge, embodying the ethos of “making groundbreaking achievements while remaining anonymous.” Uniting in purpose, they have persevered through hard work to collaboratively overcome obstacles and shoulder the historical responsibilities of mastering critical technologies.
The spirit of “Two Bombs, One Satellite” is being interpreted in more fields today—
the “Jiaolong” manned submersible overcame critical technologies related to pressure resistance, life support, long-distance underwater communication, and system control; the “Tian Kun” heavy-duty self-propelled dredger has achieved the country’s first application of dredging automation; and the “Hualong One” represents China’s first complete independent intellectual property system in nuclear energy, with the core components all produced domestically.
Amidst unprecedented changes worldwide, China is undergoing significant and unique innovations in human history, facing a challenging path ahead. Building a technologically powerful nation requires cherishing and promoting the spirit of “Two Bombs, One Satellite,” integrating patriotism, national pride, and a spirit of hard work into our collective journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
In this new era, the spirit of “Two Bombs, One Satellite” shines ever brighter.
About the author