Nanjing, capital of China's Jiangsu Province, on Friday held a solemn ceremony at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, with people from all walks of life gathering to remember history, honor martyrs and uphold peace.
A moment of silence was observed in honor of the victims, revolutionary martyrs, and soldiers who died in the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, as well as international friends who fought alongside the Chinese people.
Students recited classic anti-war poems, paying tribute to the Chinese people's fighting spirit against foreign aggression. Six representatives struck the peace bell together to symbolize remembrance of national trauma, the safeguarding of hard-won peace, and a shared commitment to a better future.
Young people attending the ceremony said the memory of that period carries a responsibility they must pass on.
"Looking back at the years when our ancestors fought for the nation, I truly feel the heavy responsibility on our shoulders. We carry forward their indomitable fighting spirit with reverence, and this is the mission that we contemporary young people must always keep in mind," said Tu Rui, a freshman at the Jiangsu Police Institute.
The memorial coincides with the 95th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, when Japanese troops staged an explosion near a railway in Shenyang in 1931 and used it as a pretext to attack Chinese forces and occupy parts of Northeast China, marking the beginning of Japan's full-scale invasion.
Nanjing hosts memorial event to honor victims of massacre by Japanese invaders
