China commemorates Nanjing Massacre victims in National Memorial Ceremony

China holds the 12th national memorial ceremony on Saturday to mourn the approximately 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which was perpetrated by Japanese invaders in 1937 in what is now the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

The memorial ceremony began at 10:00 in front of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, with the national anthem performed and sung by attendees.

A moment of silence followed in honor of the victims. During this tribute, air-raid sirens resounded across the city of Nanjing, vehicles came to a stop with horns sounding, and pedestrians paused in remembrance.

Following the moment of silence, eight large wreaths were presented to the memorial altar by the Guard of Honor.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, then delivered a speech.

At the memorial ceremony, 88 representatives of Nanjing youth recited the Declaration for Peace, a poem authored by late writer Feng Yitong (1941-2023) in 2014 in memorial of those who perished in the massacre, and six representatives from various social sectors then tolled the Bell of Peace.

As the bell sounded three times, 3,000 white doves, symbolizing the longing for peace, were released and flew over the memorial hall's square.

Parallel commemorative activities were held simultaneously at 17 burial sites of the Nanjing Massacre victims, in 12 communities, and at patriotic education centers across Jiangsu Province that focus on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

The National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre was formally established on Feb. 27, 2014, by the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, designating Dec. 13 as an annual day of remembrance through legislative procedure. This year's observance carried particular significance, as it coincides with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Nanjing Massacre lasted over 40 days after Japanese forces captured Nanjing, then China's capital, on Dec. 13, 1937. The atrocities resulted in the deaths of more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers, and included the rape of some 20,000 women.

China commemorates Nanjing Massacre victims in National Memorial Ceremony

China commemorates Nanjing Massacre victims in National Memorial Ceremony

China commemorates Nanjing Massacre victims in National Memorial Ceremony

The total number of inter-regional passenger trips across China during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun, reached a record of 9.41 billion, official data showed Saturday.

The figure marked a 4.3 percent increase over the same period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Road traffic made up the lion's share of these trips. During the period, about 8.74 billion trips were made by road, increasing by 4.2 percent year on year.

Railway passenger volume reached 540 million, expanding 4.8 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

The country's civil aviation sector recorded 94.39 million passenger trips during the period, up 4.6 percent year on year, while waterway trips surged 15.3 percent from a year ago to 35.97 million.

During the period, China's transportation authorities rolled out various measures to alleviate traffic congestion and enhace the passenger experience.

Instead of simply adding extra trains, many railway stations used ticketing system, big data to dynamically allocate capacity for popular routes. Many railway stations and airports carefully calculated their passenger demands, and then deployed robots to help guide passengers. On expressways, AI-monitoring systems were used to help better manage traffic.

For the first time this year, many train stations rolled out a large luggage delivery service, which means after ordering online, passengers can have their luggages picked up at home and delivered to their departure station or even straight to their destination.

The travel rush, often described as the world's largest annual human migration, highlights China's massive mobility and vibrant economic activity. This year's Spring Festival travel rush started on Feb. 2 and ended on March 13.

China sees record-high inter-regional trips in Spring Festival travel rush