Xifengkou section of Great Wall bears battle scars of resistance against Japanese invasion: CGTN series

Xifengkou, a strategic stronghold on the Great Wall in north China's Hebei Province and the site for a major battle against the Japanese invaders over 90 years ago, appears in a new CGTN TV series, recalling the indomitable spirit of resistance of the Chinese nation.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CGTN is launching this week a 25-part special series called "Resolve and Resilience: The Main Eastern Battlefield of World War Two," which revisits pivotal battles and heroic stories in China's resistance against the Japanese invaders. It shows China's important contribution in the final defeat of fascism and in maintaining global peace.

Winding through the rugged terrain of the Yanshan Mountains, the Great Wall at Xifengkou, north China's Hebei Province, still carries the marks of war.

In 1933, Japanese forces breached the Wall's defenses, threatening the northern frontier of China, and a fierce combat took place in Xifengkou.

"Look here -- these are the scars left by Japanese artillery fire during the war of aggression. Back then, enemy planes and cannons bombarded this area, destroying the bricks and walls, leaving deep marks behind," said Ma Zhen, former director of the Qianxi County Party History Research Office in Tangshan City, pointing to the weathered bricks.

At the time, the National Revolutionary Army's 29th Corps sent to defend the region faced insurmountable odds. Poorly equipped, with a severe shortage of firearms, the soldiers were forced to rely on unconventional methods.

Zhao Dengyu, commander of the 109th Brigade, devised a daring strategy that included close-quarters combat and night raids, despite being vastly outgunned. His troops forged broadswords, simple yet deadly weapons, to counter the Japanese forces.

Today, these rusted blades are on display at the Xifengkou Great Wall Against Japanese Aggression Museum, a testament to the soldiers' courage.

These broadswords, ranging from 80 to 100 centimeters in length and weighing 1.2 to 1.5 kilograms, have handles wrapped in twine or coarse cloth. Although varied in design, they all served the same purpose: defending the homeland.

"What we're displaying here are the actual broadswords used in the Battle of Xifengkou. These blades vary in length and shape because at that time, our equipment was outdated and steel supplies were scarce. We resorted to traditional broadsword designs, and this tactic proved highly effective in striking fear into the Japanese aggressors. They dreaded close-quarters combat, night raids, surprise attacks, and the slashing of these very blades," said Zhang Guohua, director of the museum.

The bravery of the 500-man Broadsword Brigade was legendary. The group killed over 1,000 Japanese soldiers and destroyed 18 artillery pieces, marking China's first major victory since the September 18 Incident, 1931.

The Battle of Xifengkou compelled the Japanese invaders to retreat north of the Great Wall, eroding their confidence and bolstering Chinese resolve.

On Aug 15, 1945, a radio broadcast given by Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender.

Xifengkou section of Great Wall bears battle scars of resistance against Japanese invasion: CGTN series

The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.

The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.

When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.

Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.

"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.

Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.

During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.

"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.

"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.

After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.

The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident