China to hold annual memorial for Nanjing Massacre victims

BEIJING - China will hold an annual memorial for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, in the eastern city of Nanjing Wednesday.

Leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the central government will attend the ceremony at a square in front of the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

The event will be broadcast live by media outlets including China National Radio, China Central Television, China Radio International, xinhuanet.com and major news portals.

On Dec. 13, 1937, Nanjing fell to Japanese invaders who went on a more than month-long slaughter of civilians. About 300,000 Chinese were killed, and 20,000 women raped.

In February 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as a national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.