To escape the bombing during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the IHP with its vast collection of books, specimens, instruments, and other materials relocated to Lizhuang, Sichuan. At the same time, the Institute of Sociology of Academia Sinica, the Preparatory Office of the National Central Museum, Tongji University, and the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture likewise moved to Lizhuang in quick succession, positioning the small town on the south bank of the Yangtze River as a gathering point for a great number of well-known scholars. However, a portion of Lizhuang residents were suspicious of these academic organizations, especially when they saw the skulls excavated from the Yinxu archeological site possessed by the IHP. Even rumors about “Academia Sinica being cannibals” began to spread.
In an effort to clear up any doubts, the IHP held an exhibition and a series of lectures on June 9, 1941. Looking at the task list, several talks were delivered in the morning in the auditorium, and in the afternoon, IHP research fellows were grouped to introduce their research to interested visitors with IHP publications being on display as well. Participating researchers and staff, who were required to wear badges, also included fellows of the Institute of Sociology, such as Meng-ho Tao (1888–1960) and Yu-hsin Peng (1912–1995); Deng Guangming (1907–1998), a teaching assistant of Beijing University; and graduate students Ma Xueliang (1913–1998), Ren Jiyu (1916–2009), and Liu Nianhe (?–?). Moreover, tea service was provided, and in the canteen, snacks and tobacco were on sale.