Shows, galas, movies announced to remember victory

China's cultural authorities announced on Monday the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) will be commemorated with a number of events in the coming months.

A national-level commemorative cultural gala, co-organized by the country's press and film regulator, the People's Liberation Army and the Beijing municipal government, will be held on Sept 3, according to Dong Wei, vice-minister of culture.

The ministry will also organize a performance that will tour the country for three months. It is envisaged that about 1,000 shows will be staged, attracting more than 1 million people, said Dong.

"Ticket prices for the shows will be low to attract grassroots participation," he said, promising that half of the shows will cost less than 100 yuan ($16).

He added that about 400 pieces of newly created visual artworks commemorating the anniversary will be exhibited in the National Art Museum of China from Aug 18 to Sept 20.

A major history exhibition also started on Tuesday in the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression in the Lugouqiao (also known as Marco Polo Bridge) area of Beijing. The Lugouqiao Incident on July 7, 1937, was the prelude to the war.

Li Zongyuan, deputy curator of the museum, said at the news conference on Monday that the international community's support and China's contribution as Asia's main battlefield of World War II will also be reflected.

Apart from the Communist Party of China's endeavors, he said, the Kuomintang-led Chinese Expeditionary Forces to Burma (now called Myanmar) and Chinese diplomat He Fengshan's effort to save Jewish people are also important sections of the exhibition.

Movie theaters will also pay tribute to wartime heroes with the screening of 10 blockbusters, including The Great Campaign with One Hundred Regiments and The Ballet in the War. The Cairo Declaration will also be premiered soon, said Tian Jin, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.