Photo Gallery | National Memorial Ceremony for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre Held in Nanjing
December 13, 2024, marks the 11th National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The memorial ceremony is held at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Japanese Invasion.
At 8:00 AM, a flag-raising and half-mast ceremony took place at the memorial hall. Approximately 8,000 representatives from various sectors wore white flowers and stood in silent tribute.
At 10:00 AM, the memorial ceremony commenced with the singing of the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. After the anthem, a moment of silence was observed for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The air raid sirens in Nanjing sounded, cars stopped and honked, and pedestrians stood in silence.
On December 13, Nanjing Massacre survivor Liu Minsheng arrived at the memorial ceremony.
Survivor Liu Minsheng, along with veteran soldiers and other representatives, participated in the memorial ceremony.
After the moment of silence, to the melody of “National Memorial Tribute” played by the People’s Liberation Army military band, 16 honor guards lifted 8 wreaths and presented them at the memorial altar. 87 youth representatives from Nanjing read the “Peace Declaration,” and 6 representatives from various sectors struck the “Peace Bell.” Accompanied by three deep bell tolls, 3,000 doves of peace soared into the sky, symbolizing endless sorrow for the victims and a boundless hope for world peace.
Each reflection on history serves to ignite the torch of national spirit. As the piercing sirens sounded again, it reminded the children of China to remember history, cherish peace, and unite in the powerful force of rejuvenation.
In December 1937, the Japanese invaders committed the Nanjing Massacre, resulting in the deaths of over 300,000 unarmed Chinese civilians and surrendered soldiers, leaving survivors with deep wounds and painful memories.
As 87 years have passed, by 2024, six elderly survivors, including Cheng Fubao, Chen Guixiang, Liu Suzhen, Gao Ruqin, Shi Xiuying, and Zhou Zhilin, have passed away. Currently, only 32 living survivors are registered with the Nanjing Victims of Japanese Aggression Aid Association.
We document the names and portraits of some survivors as a testament to history.
2024 Nanjing Massacre Survivor Portraits
First row from left to right: Sun Fuxiang (deceased), Guan Guangjing (deceased), Zhu Sizi (deceased), Liu Tingyu (deceased), Chen Yulan (deceased), Ma Xiuying (deceased), Pu Yeliang (deceased);
Second row from left to right: Ma Jiwu (deceased), Li Sufen (deceased), Yi Cuilan (deceased), Li Suyun (deceased), Wang Yilong (101 years old), Wang Changfa (deceased), Jiang Shuping (deceased);
Third row from left to right: Xue Yujuan (100 years old), Lü Jinbao (deceased), Wu Jiying (deceased), Hu Xinjia (deceased), Chen Guangshun (deceased), Xie Guiying (100 years old), Huang Guilan (100 years old);
Fourth row from left to right: Cen Honggui (100 years old), Gu Xiulan (deceased), Shen Shujing (deceased), Huang Zhuozhen (deceased), Zhao Jinhua (deceased), Chen Guixiang (deceased), Xu Jiaqing (deceased);
Fifth row from left to right: Li Gaoshan (deceased), Yang Cuiying (deceased), Huang Liushi (deceased), Guan Shunhua (99 years old), Wang Xiuying (deceased), Chen Wenying (deceased), Zhou Zhilin (deceased);
Sixth row from left to right: Cai Lihua (deceased), Wei Guiru (98 years old), Yi Lanying (98 years old), Zhang Xiuhong (deceased), Shi Xiuying (deceased), Gao Hengfa (deceased), Wang Fuyi (deceased);
Seventh row from left to right: Li Meilan (deceased), Ge Daorong (deceased), Ma Shuqin (deceased), Ma Yuehua (deceased), Li Changfu (97 years old), Lin Yuhong (deceased), Yu Changxiang (deceased);
Eighth row from left to right: Zhang Fuzhi (deceased), Jin Maozhi (deceased), Chang Zhiqiang (deceased), Zheng Jinyang (deceased), Wan Xiuying (deceased), Ai Yiying (96 years old), Gong Denian (96 years old);
Ninth row from left to right: Xiang Yuansong (deceased), Zhu Weiping (deceased), Jing Zhizhen (96 years old), Zhu Xiuying (deceased), Shen Guiying (deceased), He Xiaohua (deceased), Chen Suhua (deceased);
Tenth row from left to right: Xia Shuqin (95 years old), Yang Jingqiu (deceased), Zhang Huixia (deceased), Zhou Xiangping (deceased), Zhang Lanying (deceased), Jiang Shuzhen (95 years old), Qiu Xiuying (deceased);
Eleventh row from left to right: Xu Deming (94 years old), Liu Guixiang (94 years old), Guo Linda (deceased), Zhang Shixiang (deceased), Ma Chengnian (deceased); Wang Cuiying (deceased), Yao Xiuying (deceased);
Twelfth row from left to right: Wang Jin (deceased), Xiong Shulan (93 years old), Liu Suzhen (deceased), Pan Qiaoying (93 years old), Guo Xiulan (92 years old), Zhu Zaiqiang (deceased), Chen Deshou (92 years old);
Thirteenth row from left to right: Wang Zihua (91 years old), Cheng Fubao (deceased), Wu Xiuying (91 years old), Lu Hongcai (91 years old), Ruan Xiuying (deceased), Gao Ruqin (deceased), Ma Tinglu (deceased);
Fourteenth row from left to right: She Ziqing (deceased), Yuan Guilong (deceased), Cen Honglan (90 years old); Liu Minsheng (90 years old), Fang Suxia (90 years old), Tang Fulon (89 years old), Liu Xingming (deceased);
Fifteenth row from left to right: Wang Sumin (deceased), Cheng Wenying (88 years old), Ma Tingbao (88 years old), Tao Chengyi (88 years old), Fu Zhaozeng (deceased), Ruan Dingdong (87 years old), Su Chengqi (deceased), Zhou Wenbin (86 years old).
This article is compiled from Xinhua News Agency and Visual China.
