“Martyrs are those who gave their lives for the founding of the People's Republic of China and those who secured a safe future for the republic,” said Dong Liang, who was born in 1945. For Chinese from his generation, memories of the early days of the PRC and wars of the last century are still fresh. 

September 30 is China's Martyrs' Day. CGTN took to the streets of Beijing and talked to ordinary Beijingers, to understand how their concept of “martyr” or “hero” has changed through the years.

“I think the firefighters, or the police who died on their post to safeguard a safe community, the everyday heroes, are also martyrs,” said Liu Mingzhou, a member of China's “post-90s” generation, who grew up in a time of peace.

“As well as those who give their lives to save others' lives, such as the fighter jet pilot who steered his jet away from populated area before it crashed,” echoed Liu Lu.

“We live in a fast-paced world today. I think with the Martyrs' Day in place, people will have a chance to slow down and reflect, and to remember their love for life,” Liu Lu added.

While Dong said, “We need to remind China's new generation that today's life is not easy to get. Countless people died in wars of the last century.” 

“We need the Martyrs' Day to remind younger Chinese how today's China came to be and what the martyrs stand for, so that their blood was not spilled in vain,” he stressed.