Published : 2024-09-30

September 30, 2014, was China's first Martyrs' Day.

On that morning, national leaders such as President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) came to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, together with representatives from all walks of life in the capital, to attend the wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the People's Heroes.

The ceremony began at exactly 10 am, with the band of the People's Liberation Army playing "The March of the Volunteers", and everyone singing the national anthem. Then the entire venue stood in silence in commemoration of the martyrs.

After the silence, over 240 children and teenagers sang the song of the Chinese Young Pioneers facing the Monument to the People's Heroes, raising their right hands and presenting a team salute.

There were nine large wreaths lined up at the ceremony. The red ribbons on the wreaths read "The People's Heroes are Immortal", in golden letters. When the band played "Flower Offering Tune", 18 guards lifted the wreaths and slowly walked toward the Monument to the People's Heroes, and placed the wreaths on the base of the monument.

After the wreath-laying, Xi Jinping and other leaders ascended the base of the monument. They paused for a moment in front of the wreaths, re-arranged the wreath ribbons, then slowly walked around to look at the Monument.

Lastly, children, teenagers, and representatives from all walks of life also took turns to approach the Monument to present their flowers.