A state memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre is held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province on Saturday. The country grieves over the brutal tragedy that saw Japanese invaders take more than 300,000 Chinese lives in six weeks after they occupied Nanjing on Dec 13, 1937.

During the 40-minute memorial ritual, the audience sang the national anthem, soldiers laid wreaths, and a 85-year-old representative of the massacre's survivors stepped on stage with President Xi Jinping to pay tribute to the victims.

Xi said that the Chinese people will remember history while cherishing peace and creating a better future.

The state ceremony for China's first National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims is held at the memorial hall for the massacre victims in Nanjing, capital city of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

10:36

Zhang Dejiang announces the memorial ceremonycomes to an end.

10:33

Six representatives from Nanjing ring the peace bell, and 3,000 doves?are released into the air.

10:32

Xi: Today's China has become a strong nation that is able to protect its citizens' peaceful life, and the days have long gone when the Chinese were trampled and suffered abuse from outside. The Chinese people are in high spirits and vigorously following the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and are striving to realize the two hundred-year goals and the Chinese dream of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China's development prospects are bright.

10:29

Xi: The state ceremony for Nanjing Massacre victims is held to rouse all peace-loving people to yearn for and work towards peace rather than to incite hatred. Chinese and Japanese people should keep their friendship from generation to generation, learn from history and look forward to a future where they can contribute towards peace for all mankind.

10:26

Xi: After eight years' arduous fight, the Chinese people paid a painful price with 35 million people sacrificing their lives. They have beaten the Japanese invaders with their lives and blood to win the glorious victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, and made great contributions in the World War against Fascism.

10:24

Xi: History will not tolerate anyone who wants to deny the fact of the Nanjing Massacre, nor will the 300,000 Nanjing Massacre victims, the 1.3 billion Chinese people, and all the peace-loving people in the world.

10:22

Xi: It was moving that our compatriots helped and supported each other during the bloody days of the massacre. Many international friends also took risks to protect Nanjing people in various ways, and recorded the brutality of the Japanese invaders. The Chinese people will remember

10:21

Xi: The Japanese army invaded Nanjing on Dec 13, 1937, and committed the atrocious crimes of the Nanjing massacre. A total of 300,000 compatriots were killed. The massacre was one of the most heinous crimes against humanity during World War II and a very black day in human history.

10:20 

Xi expresses the wish of the Chinese people to stick to the path of peaceful development, and announced the firm stand of Chinese people to remember history, cherish peace and create a better future.

10:19 

Xi: The state ceremony is to mourn the innocent Nanjing Massacre victims, our compatriots killed by Japanese invaders and revolutionary martyrs and national heroes who devoted their lives to win victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

10:16

President Xi Jinping accompanies the 85-year-old Xia Shuqin, the representative of the Nanjing Massacre survivors, to the public memorial stage, and they unveiled the Public Memorial Tripod together with Ruan Wenze, a 13-year-old student. Many of Ruan’s family members died during the Nanjing Massacre. As the ribbon iss pulled, the curtain is unveiled, and the tripod weighing 2,014 kilograms appeares to thunderous applause.

10:11

77 teenagers read Declaration of Peace.

10:06

Wreath presented in memory of victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

10:06

Air defense warning goes off at the ceremony, and all stand in silent tribute.

10:04

Military band begins their performance, and the whole audience sings the national anthem in unison.

10:01

The memorial ceremony begins.

10:01

Zhang Dejiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the NPC standing committee, says, "The national memorial ceremony for Nanjing Massacre Victims will begin. Let's sing the national anthem of the People's Republic of China."

09:56

The national public memorial ceremony will be held in the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. At 7:00 am, the memorial hall lowered the national flag to half-mast. The State Council of China authorized the lowering of the flag to half-mast on December 13 from this year.