Nanjing remembers its day of infamy

Delegates of the survivors of Nanjing Massacre strike the bell for peace during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. Over 3,000 Chinese and overseas pacifists joined the event to commemorate the 68th anniversary of Nanjing Massacre and mourn for the 300,000 victims. Japanese troops occupied Nanjing on Dec. 13, 1937, and launched a six-week long massacre, killing over 300,000 Chinese people. [Xinhua Photo]

A student puts up a peace-dove-shaped scrip with peaceful words on it during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Pacifists from Japan pray during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005.[Xinhua Photo]

Wu Xiulan (L, front), a 92-year-old woman who lost her leg and two children in the massacre 68 years ago, presents flowers with the help of her daughters during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Students mourn for the victims of Nanjing Massacre in front of the Monument for the Victims Killed at the Zhongshan Dock in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Students mourn for the victims of Nanjing Massacre during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

A student mourns for the victims of Nanjing Massacre during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Students dedicate white flowers to the victims during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Pacifists from Japan pray during an international peaceful assembly at the Memorial Hall for Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invading Troops in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 13, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]

Nanjing, the city which was raped by Japanese invaders 68 years ago today, sounded sirens as a routine across the city at 10am to remind people of the massacre and mourn the 300,000 victims killed by the invaders after they broke into the then capital of China.

The Jiangsu provincial government and the Nanjing city government held a gathering attended by thousands of people at the Memorial Hall of The Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders this morning.

A citizen representative read a declaration of peace to the gathering which was hosted by the city mayor after people laid wreaths to the victims. Before it ended with a Song of Peace, the representatives attending the gathering called people to fight against war, terrorism or any other unjust activities.

The gathering was followed by a ceremony marking the start of work to expand the memorial.

The Nanjing Massacre Website also launched its English version yesterday.

The Chinese version opened last December. The English version offers a chance for people throughout the world to know the truth of the massacre and the brutality of the Japanese invaders which was rare in the history of civilization, said Zhu Chengshan, head of the memorial.

Opening of the English version is part of the memorial's 68th anniversary activities.

On this day 68 years ago, invading Japanese began a massacre in Nanjing. In less than a month, they killed more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war, destroyed one-third of the houses and buildings in the city and committed more than 20,000 rapes.

The Chinese version of the Website has attracted more than 300,000 visitors. The link for the English Website is english.nj1937.org while that for its Chinese edition is www.nj1937.org. (Shanghai Daily)

The expansion project of the Memorial Hall for the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre broke ground Tuesday in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, to mark the 63rd anniversary of the atrocity committed by Japanese invading troops.