China commemorated on Tuesday the 78th anniversary of the start of its eight-year resistance against the Japanese invasion, underlining the country's essential role in World War II. [Special coverage]
Activities were held nationwide to mark the "July 7 Incident" of 1937, when Japanese troops attacked Lugou Bridge, a crucial access point to Beijing.
Japan invaded northeast China in September 1931, but historians generally agree that the July 7 Incident marked Japan's full-scale invasion and the start of China's eight-year war of resistance.
COMMEMORATIONS
An exhibition, "Great Victory, Historic Contribution", opened on Tuesday at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression near Lugou Bridge, also known as Marco Polo Bridge, in the southwest of Beijing.
A total of 1,170 pictures and 2,834 artifacts are on show. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top leaders visited the exhibition.
All members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the whole nation should keep in mind this period of history, which was the result of life and blood, and bear in mind the achievements of the Chinese people to ensure national independence and freedom, and the sovereignty and dignity of the motherland, Xi said.
"The great contributions made by the Chinese people to the world anti-Fascist war should be remembered."
"We must cherish peace while being cautious of the future," said Xi, adding that China is committed to the road of peaceful development, and will defend world peace while advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The exhibition is part of the country's events in the run up to the 70th anniversary of the victory of the anti-Japanese aggression war and the victory of WWII.
Shandong Province in east China on Tuesday launched an online memorial website on the anti-Japanese war, which features 3D video.
The interactive museum profiles the battles in Shandong during the war. It also features the names of soldiers and civilians who died during the war.
Wang Junmin, vice Party chief of the province, said the site is cell phone and computer friendly, and the content is available in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean.
The privately run Jianchuan Museum in Anren Township of Dayi County in Sichuan Province opened an exhibition on Tuesday, with more than 6,000 items on display that document Japanese atrocities during WWII.
The 3,500-square-meter exhibition hall was designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. About 95 percent of the items are from Japan, explained museum owner Fan Jianchuan.
The items include the records of Chinese-civilian deaths by Japanese troops, letters from Japanese soldiers, official documents on bombings, propaganda boasting military achievements, shell debris and Japanese swords.
"I hope Japanese people will visit, and reflect," said Fan.
The government of Jiangsu Province on Tuesday opened a photo exhibition in the provincial capital of Nanjing. More than 700 images are on display.
Among the visitors was Li Jianfeng, 90, a soldier during the anti-Japanese war. Li said the pictures are records of history and are of great value.
"Knowing history can help us better live up to our responsibilities and do better in our work," he said.
In Beijing, two monuments were unveiled on Monday, one in memory of Tong Linge and another for Zhao Dengyu. Both were commanders of the Nationalist Army and died during the war.
Early on Tuesday, Wang Lei cycled for an hour to see the sculpture depicting Zhao Dengyu in downtown Beijing.
"It is a special day. I want to come here to see the sculpture, remember our heroes, and feel their spirit in my heart."
