Sirens wailed and a giant bell tolled yesterday as residents of the capital of Jiangsu Province, along with people in other parts of the nation, marked the 70th anniversary of one of the darkest days in China's history: The Nanjing Massacre.
On December 13, 1937, Japanese troops marched into the then national capital and started a six weeks of killing, raping, burning and pillaging, during which at least 300,000 Chinese were slaughtered and 20,000 raped.
"History must be remembered, not for hatred but for peace," said 79-year-old Chang Zhiqiang, a survivor who lost his parents and three younger brothers in the massacre.
He joined some 8,000 people, including 100 survivors, at the commemorative event in front of the memorial hall for the Chinese victims.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang - in a rare move - invited the press corps to observe a moment of silence with him before he took any questions.
He reiterated China's long-held principle of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future".
"We commemorate the day to ponder upon the past, which can provide guidance in days to come, to take history as a mirror and look forward to the future, and to cherish peace," he said.
In a similar tone, mourners in Nanjing made a declaration that calls on "all peace-loving people to unite in building a peaceful, harmonious and reconciliatory new world".
Xu Zhonglin, chairman of the Jiangsu provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said a few right-wingers in Japan have ignored historical facts and attempted to deny the massacre.
"Their action has severely damaged the healthy and stable development of the China-Japan relationship," Xu said.
Meanwhile, the enlarged Nanjing Massacre memorial reopened yesterday after an 18-month renovation. Built on 7.4 hectares, it is about three times larger than the earlier one, and has a 9,000 sq m exhibition area.
The exhibits on display include 3,500 photographs, audio-video materials and documentaries, according to curator Zhu Chengshan. The new exhibits include archives of 10,000 massacre victims.
In Beijing, thousands of people from all walks of life flocked to the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression yesterday to mourn the victims.
In Xiamen, Fujian Province, more than 100 Chinese musicians will stage a symphony concert, "History and Future", tonight to mourn the victims and appeal for peace across the world.
Questions:
1. In which year did the Japanese Imperial Army march into the then Chinese capital of Nanjing?
2. How many fatalities are estimated to have taken place during the six-week period now referred to as the Nanjing Massacre?
3.The newly opened memorial showcases archives of how many massacre victims?
Answers:
1.1937.
2.300,000.
3.10,000.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan is an Australian who has been involved in education and writing for over a decade. He has published most recently for the Tiger Airways Inflight magazine, The Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times and Japan's Hiroshima Outside Magazine. He holds a Masters Degree in Community Development and Management and has resided in China for over 3 years.
