China on Wednesday officially started the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing with an 80-gun salute.

Amid gun salutes, honor guards escorted the national flag from the Monument to the People's Heroes in the square's center northward to the flagpole.

As the flag was raised, the entire assembly joined in singing the national anthem – March of the Volunteers – which was born during the wartime.

The grand event included a military parade.

(Cover: An 80-gun salute is fired at the commemoration to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Beijing, September 3, 2025. /Xinhua)