Residents of the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing on Friday commemorated the victims of the Nanking Massacre, during which the Japanese army brutally murdered some 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers during World War II.
The national commemoration ceremony began at 8 a.m. in the square in front of the Memorial Hall for the victims of the Nanking Massacre caused by Japanese invaders. China's national flag was lowered to half-mast.
At 10:01 a.m., sirens sounded. Drivers in the city centre stopped their cars and honked their horns, while pedestrians paused for a moment to observe a minute's silence for the victims.
More than 80 young people recited the Declaration of Peace and representatives of the citizens rang the Peace Bell. White doves, symbolizing the hope for peace, filled the square and were released into the sky.
History of National Memorial Day
In 2014, the Chinese parliament set December 13 as National Memorial Day for the victims of the Nanking Massacre, which took place after the Japanese army occupied the city of Nanking on December 13, 1937. Over a period of more than six weeks, Japanese troops killed approximately 300,000 civilians and unarmed soldiers at the time, representing one of the most brutal and tragic events of World War II.
As of 22 July this year, only 32 survivors of the Nanjing Massacre have been registered.
The Memorial Hall and the meaning of a place of remembrance
The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, which stands on the site of the mass burial ground, was opened to the public in 1985. Since 2014, when it became the main venue for the national commemoration ceremony, it has welcomed approximately 5 million visitors annually.
This year, more than 125 000 people visited the Memorial Hall, with an average of 400 visitors a day. The most common words left in the comments include "history," "peace" and "remembrance."
Each year, commemorative events in Nanjing mark the importance of peace and the preservation of historical memory for future generations.
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