China marks Martyrs' Day at Tiananmen Square

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‍Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders of the state attended a ceremony held at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing to honor and remember deceased national heroes on the country's fourth Martyrs' Day on Saturday.

President Xi Jinping together with other top leaders and thousands of representatives from all walks of life, then stood up for the national anthem and laid flower baskets in tribute.

The Monument to the People's Heroes /CGTN Photo

They walked around the monument, paying homage to those who sacrificed their lives for China’s independence and liberation from the First Opium War in 1840, to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

The ceremony was held at the Monument to the People's Heroes one day before National Day, a solemn yet emotional commemoration in honor of the country's martyrs.

The marble tablet, the foundations of which were laid on September 30 sixty-eight years ago, stand tall against the sky of early autumn in Beijing, over a crowd of people holding chrysanthemums.

Martyrs' Day is to honor and remember deceased national heroes. /CGTN Photo

One of the highlights of this year's Martyrs' Day ceremony was the attendance of a special group of people – the first batch of military officers who received the Order of Bayi, the country's highest military award. This year marks the 90th founding anniversary of the Chinese armed forces.

On July 28, just ahead of the Army Day, President Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, awarded 10 military officers with medals, and presented them with certificates of honor.

One of the military officers said that it's an honor for them to attend the Martyrs' Day ceremony as it gave them the opportunity to pay respects to the heroes who devoted their lives for China's independence and liberation.

The ceremony was held a day before National Day. /CGTN Photo

Stressing that the day fully embodied the country's respect and praise for the decorated officers, he said it will boost the morale of the military and motivate soldiers and the young generations to contribute to the peace and development of the country and well-being of the people.

Commemorative activities are also being held across the country to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate price for China to enjoy an era of peace and growth.

In 2014, China's legislature approved September 30, the eve of the National Day, as the Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for national causes.

Martyrs, as defined by the government, are "people who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity, as well as the welfare of the people in modern times, or after First Opium War (1840-1842)."

Official Statistics show that China has over 20 million martyrs. But only 1.93 million of them have been named in government records, while the rest remain unidentified.

This year also marks the 72nd anniversary of the end of World War Two, as well as China's victory in the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression, which fell on September 3.

Later on December 13, China will mark the 80th anniversary of the National Memorial Day for the Nanjing Massacre victims.

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