This Day, That Year : Sept 30

Editor's note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.

On Sept 30, 1949, the construction of the Monument to the People's Heroes started on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

It was completed, after six years, to commemorate the martyrs of the revolutionary struggle during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The monument is 37.94 meters high, covering an area of about 3,100 square meters. It contains 17,000 pieces of marble and granite.

The lower plinth depicts the country's revolutionary movement－the destruction of opium at Humen in 1839, the Jintian Uprising in 1851, the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, the Nanchang Uprising in 1927, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign in 1949.

Fourteen historical sites along the capital's axis, including the monument, Qianmen Gate, Jingshan Park, the Drum and Bell Towers, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and Tian'anmen Square have been identified as key heritage sites.

An item from April 6, 1982, in China Daily showed students holding a ceremony in front of the monument in memory of the heroes during Tomb Sweeping Day.

It is estimated that China has about 20 million martyrs. However, only 1.93 million have been named in the government's directory, while the rest could not be identified.

The number has grown by about 300 annually in recent years.

In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, set Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day to honor those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity.

Observers said Martyrs' Day would encourage the Chinese people to contribute to the country's renewal.

Last year, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs announced that China will set up dedicated cemeteries for military personnel and their relatives as a way to honor their service and enhance national identity and pride.

The remains of more than 1.4 million martyrs are resting in about 4,200 protected memorials, according to the ministry.