After Pearl Harbor, then-U.S. President Roosevelt sent Gen. Joseph Stilwell (1883-1946) to Chongqing as commander-in-chief of Allied forces in the China-Burma-India theater of the war. Unfortunately, "Vinegar Joe" and the KMT general he was supposed to advise -- Chiang Kai-shek -- had rather different agendas, not to mention temperaments, and in 1944, at Chiang's urging, Stilwell was relieved of his post. Nonetheless, his contribution to the Burma Road campaign was significant -- reason enough for the local government to continue to maintain a museum honoring him. His disdain for Chiang must also have endeared him to the party.

The Stiwell Museum, housed in Stilwell's Chongqing residence, has a collection of newspaper clippings, photographs, letters, and Stilwell's personal belongings. A video tells the Chinese version of Stilwell's tour of duty and includes rare clips. Explanations are in English and Chinese. The Stilwell and Flying Tiger T-shirts sold here make unique gifts.