September 30 marks China's Martyrs' Day, when people across the country pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

In Beijing, university students gathered at the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to learn about a pivotal period in China’s modern history.

Located on the southwestern outskirts of Beijing, near Lugou Bridge, the museum stands at the historic site of the July 7 Incident in 1937, when Japanese forces opened fire on Chinese troops and began shelling the town. The incident marked the beginning of China’s nationwide War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

For the young people who come to commemorate the fallen, remembering the past is also a way to reflect on their own responsibilities and on the future.