Nanjing’s annual public memorial commemorating the Nanjing Massacre shall take place once again on 13 December. The public are called upon to observe a minute of silence, and to be aware of changes in transportation affecting their daily commute.
Come Monday morning, those new to Nanjing in the last 12 months may immediately become alarmed. Over the entire downtown part of Nanjing, air-raid sirens that date from World War II shall begin their mournful cry, intermittently for the entire morning. They shall only be interrupted by proceedings inside the Nanjing Massacre Memorial.
The 84th public memorial shall begin at 10:00 sharp, with a military band playing the Chinese national anthem inside the Massacre Memorial in front of the assembled guests, dignitaries, first responders and service men and women.
The 1-minute of silence shall then be observed at 10:01. Outside, members of the public are called upon to join in the silence, by pausing whatever they are doing at that time. Taxis, buses and trams are to come to a halt and sound their horns.
Ships are also to sound their foghorns and metro trains are to blare their warnings if out in the open and not running in underground tunnels. However, it is stressed that participation by all the aforementioned should only proceed provided it is safe to do so.
The entire area around the Nanjing Massacre Memorial shall be closed to traffic and the general public, other than those on official business.
The arrangements will have the biggest impact upon transportation on Shuiximen Da Jie, Chating Dong Lu, Yunjin Lu and the general area of Hexi Wanda Plaza.
As per the Yangtze Evening News, a number of buses will have their routes changed and/or their terminus stops adjusted, specifically buses number 7, 37, 39, 41, 48, 56, 57, 61, 63, 80, 81, 82, 109, 170, 186, 204, D4 and D7.
In addition, trains on Nanjing Metro Line 2 will not stop at Yunjin Lu station between 7 am and midday on 13 December.
Members of the public who rely on any of these services for their daily commute are recommended to allow considerable extra time for their journey to work on Monday morning and/or to make alternative arrangements.
