Soldati cinesi guardia accanto a ghirlande a un monumento per il popolo di eroi sul primo dei martiri giorno nella città di Yantai, est della Cina di Shandong prov
Chinese soldiers stand guard next to wreaths at a Monument to the People's Heroes on the first Martyrs' Day in Yantai city, east China's Shandong province, 30 September 2014. A day before the National Day, China rallied to honor and remember the deceased national heroes on the first Martyrs' Day. The country's top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, paid silent tribute and offered flower baskets at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square, downtown Beijing, on Tuesday (30 September 2014) morning. China's top legislature approved Sept. 30 as the Martyrs' Day last month, to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for national independence and prosperity. Martyrs, as defined by the government, are "people who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity, as well as the welfare of the people in modern times, or after First Opium War (1840-1842)." It is estimated that China has about 20 million martyrs. However, only 1.93 million of them have been named in the government's directory while the rest could not be identified. The number increases by about 300 annually in recent years.
