Bells tolled and sirens sounded across China Tuesday morning. On September 18th, 1931 Japanese soldiers invaded northeastern China, setting off 14 years of bloodshed and turmoil. Many Chinese say they can't forget the wounds left by the invasion. But as CGTN's Xu Xinchen shows us, many also feel that moving ahead peacefully is the answer.

9：18 a.m., Tuesday September 18th. Bells ring fourteen times reminding people of the suffering caused by Japanese aggression. 87 years ago today Japanese troops blew up a section of a railway in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang. It marked the start of an invasion that caused 14 years of suffering in China. Sirens also wail across cities in China commemorating the September 18th incident.

XU XINCHEN SHENYANG "The Japanese surrendered on September 2nd, 1945 — marking a victory for Chinese people's resistance against Japanese Aggression. But during the 14-years of the war, millions of Chinese were killed. This museum in Shenyang officially opened in 1999 — giving people the chance to learn and remember the history, but also the unforgettable wounds."

HAN XIAO, NARRATOR SHENYANG 918 HISTORY MUSEUM "We have six sections in the museum chronically documenting wars between China and Japanese aggressors until the victory of the resistance."

26-year-old Han Xiao has worked in the museum as a narrator and tour guide for three years. For him, the history is becoming more than just photos and texts.

HAN XIAO, NARRATOR SHENYANG 918 HISTORY MUSEUM "It's not just about teaching people the history. More importantly, we try to pass down a spirit of patriotism as well as the perseverance showed by the resistance in Northeastern China against Japanese invaders."

The museum sees an increase in visitors around September 18th each year — many of them younger people who want to know more about the past.

MUSEUM VISITORS "After seeing how much the Japanese aggression prepared for the invasion, I resent them."

MUSEUM VISITORS "There were many people injured and killed. As Chinese, we have to preserve peace."

While the history cannot be erased nor forgotten, wounds might heal with time. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Peace treaty between China and Japan. As two important players globally, maintaining peace and healthy ties not only benefits the two but also the region and the rest of the world. Xu Xinchen, CGTN, Shenyang.