Dezhou Antique Market 德州古玩市场 – A Walk Through History Before the 80th Anniversary

📍 Dezhou 德州, Shandong 山东, China

Sometimes, the best way to understand history isn’t through books or museums, but through the objects that once passed through ordinary hands. On my visit to the Dezhou Antique Market (德州古玩市场 Dézhōu Gǔwán Shìchǎng), I felt this truth deeply — especially as China approaches the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance (抗日战争胜利八十周年).

The market was alive with collectors, vendors, and curious wanderers like myself. Rows of tables were laid out with old coins (古钱 gǔqián), silver ingots (元宝 yuánbǎo), cultural relics, and worn trinkets that once had private stories. Each piece whispered of lives long past — of trade, faith, and everyday resilience.

What struck me most were the wartime medals and badges, like the 1947 “抗日纪念” (Anti-Japanese Commemoration) medal. To hold these pieces, even briefly, was to feel the weight of sacrifice and courage that shaped modern China. Elaine was fascinated by how a simple star-shaped badge could carry so much history — reminding us that behind every medal was a soldier, a family, and a story of survival.

Walking through the market felt almost like walking through a living archive. Unlike museums, here you could touch, ask, bargain, and imagine. Some coins dated back dynasties, others carried revolutionary slogans. Together, they told a story of China not as an abstract history, but as a lived journey.

✍️ In our family’s travel diary (also shared on China Travel Bug), we always treasure moments where history feels personal. And here, ahead of the 80th anniversary commemorations, Dezhou’s antiques reminded us that memory isn’t only national — it’s also human, found in small tokens of resilience.

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✨ Tips for Travelers
• 🕙 Best time to visit: Weekends, when most vendors gather.
• 🎟️ Free entry, but bring cash for bargaining.
• 📸 Must-see: Wartime medals, Qing dynasty coins, cultural trinkets.
• 📍 Location: In the heart of Dezhou, easy to reach by taxi or local bus.

Post by Lee Khee Chuan | Sep 3, 2025