China commemorated the 88th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident this week, a pivotal moment in 1937 that ignited nationwide resistance against Japanese aggression during World War II. The somber milestone was marked by reflections on unity and sacrifice. 🕊️
A Survivor’s Story: ‘We Fled as Soldiers Fell’
Zheng Fulai, who passed away earlier this year, shared haunting memories of the conflict with China Media Group. As a child, he witnessed Chinese soldiers of the 29th Army clash with Japanese forces at dawn. ‘I held my mother’s dress, running to the pine grove where fallen soldiers lay covered in cloth,’ he recalled. Zheng dedicated his life to educating youth about the war, urging them to ‘never forget’ their history. 📖
From Tragedy to Unity
After Japanese troops captured Peiping (now Beijing) in July 1937, over 10,000 civilians were killed or disappeared. The crisis spurred the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang to unite against the invasion—a rare collaboration that defined China’s role as WWII’s main Eastern battlefield. 💥
The Cost of War
Official data reveals over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties—nearly 8% of the population at the time. Today, memorials and oral histories keep the legacy alive, reminding younger generations of resilience amid unimaginable hardship. 🕯️
As one netizen tweeted: ‘History isn’t just dates—it’s the courage that shaped our world.’ 🌍✨
