A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025. Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression. Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

SHENYANG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

At exactly 9:18 a.m., 14 representatives from various sectors struck a huge bell 14 times, symbolizing the 14 years of bitter struggle against Japanese invaders.

Across the city, three minutes of air-raid sirens and vehicle horns echoed, as pedestrians stood still in silent tribute.

Since 1995, Shenyang has sounded the air-raid alarm every year to commemorate the September 18 Incident.

On Sept. 18, 1931, Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for their attack later that night against barracks near Shenyang, starting the premeditated invasion of China. ■

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A ceremony to commemorate the September 18 Incident is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Wu Qinghao)

A police officer takes off his hat and stands still to commemorate the September 18 Incident in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Vehicles stop and drivers wail their sirens to commemorate the September 18 Incident in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2025.

Sirens wailed and a bell tolled in northeast China on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the start of China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and their relatives, gathered on the square of the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang to honor those who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People visit a memorial hall for the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in western Yunnan, in Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Photo by Gong Zujin/Xinhua)

People pay tributes to martyrs at a martyrs' cemetery of a memorial hall for the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in western Yunnan, in Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Photo by Gong Zujin/Xinhua)

(250918) -- NANJING, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- People visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Photo by Du Yi/Xinhua)

(250918) -- NANJING, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- People visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Photo by Du Yi/Xinhua)

(250918) -- HULUN BUIR, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A man visits a memorial park for the World Anti-Fascist War in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

(250918) -- HULUN BUIR, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 18, 2025 shows people visiting a memorial park for the World Anti-Fascist War in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Bei He)

(250918) -- HULUN BUIR, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Students visit a memorial park for the World Anti-Fascist War in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

(250918) -- HULUN BUIR, Sept. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- People visit a memorial park for the World Anti-Fascist War in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2025. People across China on Thursday commemorated the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Xinhua/Bei He)