The 82nd anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre shall be held this Friday, 13 December, entailing, as usual, a number of symbolic rituals by way of respect to the hundreds of thousands who perished in that which was the bleakest period in the city’s 2,500-year history.
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.
As per previous years, the Nanjing public is being encouraged to participate in the mourning ritual in whatever way they can. It is strongly suggested that drivers stop their vehicles at 10.01 am, after the national anthem has been played at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial, to then proceed to sound their vehicle’s horn for a 1-minute period.
While trains and ships are expected to do likewise, authorities are keen to stress that they should only comply after ensuring that it is safe to do so, given the large numbers of people under their care, reports The Nanjinger’s local media partner, Longhoo. Pedestrians on roads in the vicinity and all people in nearby public places should also observe a 1-minute mourning.
Roads around the Massacre Memorial in the Hexi area of Nanjing shall be closed to all traffic, except those vehicles on official business related to the mourning.
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. 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.
The Nanjing Massacre began on 13 December, 1937, when Japanese troops entered the city and began a 6-week rampage of violence upon both Nanjing civilians and military personnel. Mass rape was commonplace; local authorities claim 300,000 people lost their lives. Others, such as the Japanese, claim the number was significantly lower.
Those who could, escaped the city. Yet some chose to stay and try to make sense of the chaos and attempts at defense. Among them, a number of foreigners, who between them, helped save the lives of countless Chinese. This Friday, The Nanjinger continues its annual coverage of the atrocity with a special report of the unlikely Danish hero that Nanjing found in Bernhard Arp Sindberg, and those who today help keep alive the memory of him and the Nanjing Massacre.
