Chinese martyrs from Korean War laid to rest in solemn ceremony

China held a burial ceremony in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province on Saturday for the remains of 30 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who gave their lives in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).

Their remains, carried by a People's Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft, were repatriated on Friday after a handover ceremony in the Republic of Korea (ROK). A welcome ceremony followed at the Shenyang Taoxian International Airport which included a "water salute," a traditional honor for heroes.

Footage from the dignified burial at the CPV martyrs' cemetery showed guards of honor firing 12 shots, the highest ceremonial salute, to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers. After that, soldiers solemnly laid the martyrs to rest as a military band performed The Song of Remembrance.

The Chinese national anthem was played in a homecoming tribute to the repatriated martyrs.

The remains of the 30 CPV martyrs, along with 267 of their personal effects, were transported back to China on a PLA Air Force aircraft from the ROK on Friday morning, and escorted to Shenyang.

It was the twelfth such handover carried out since 2014, when China and the ROK signed an agreement, covering the remains of 1,011 CPV martyrs.