Actress Liu Mintao (left) performs at the grand cultural gala to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Photo: VCG

A grand cultural gala was staged at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday evening to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. With the theme of "Justice Prevails," the 90-minute performance, centered around key historical moments and scenes from the Eastern battlefield of World War II, powerfully condensed China's 14-year struggle and highlighted the eternal truths that justice, peace, and the people will ultimately triumph, according to the People's Daily.

Divided into six sections and five main scenes, the event wove together music, dance, theater, and multimedia, utilizing immersive sound and innovative stagecraft to recreate pivotal moments such as the Nanjing Massacre, the Hundred-Regiment Campaign, and the victory in Pingxingguan.

By delving deeply into historical facts and employing creative staging, the gala constructed cross-temporal dialogues and integrated narratives from different eras. Three vital connections were vividly portrayed: the link between the Eastern and European battlefields, underscoring China's indispensable role in the global struggle; the connection between China's war and the worldwide anti-fascist effort, emphasizing that "our enemy was a global enemy, and China's resistance was a global resistance"; and the relationship between the guerrilla and frontal battlefields, highlighting the pivotal leadership and strategic vision of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as reported by the People's Daily.

Notably, the gala featured a new generation of young artists as its core creative force, with post-1990 directors and post-2000 performers bringing fresh energy and perspective to the stage.

Amid the stirring melody of "Medal for the Unknown Heroes," 27-year-old opera singer Cai Chengyu walked onto the stage with a bouquet. "This song is dedicated to the nameless martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Its melody is both tragic and heroic. Every time I sing it, my steps feel especially heavy," Cai shared after the gala. "As a young artist, this performance was a formative experience. While remembering history, we also stepped on the footprints of struggle on the journey toward a stronger nation."

Cai told the Global Times that they spent several months polishing the performance, hoping to show their best to the audience. He mentioned that the magnificent and affectionate melody as well as the lyrics of the song never fail to move him to tears every time he sings it.

"Eighty years ago, countless martyrs built a 'Great Wall' with their flesh and blood, and achieved the first complete victory against foreign aggression in China's modern history. Their fearless sacrifices have secured the peace we enjoy today; their exploits stand as an eternal monument, and the great spirit of the War against Japanese Aggression will always inspire future generations to move forward," Cai emphasized.

The portrayal of collective and ordinary people emerged as a central creative theme. For example, in the dance piece Shang (lit: Elegy), which mourns the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, a brother and sister flee under the enemy's gunfire, before the brother falls in a mass grave. The sister clings to his cold hands, embracing them tightly. Choreographer Hu Shenyuan designed a sequence of repeated falls and rises, conveying the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Chinese people, according to the Beijing Daily.

The dramatic piece Yongyuan de Fanhao (lit: Eternal Number) artistically reconstructs the story of a mother in Liulaozhuang, a village in Huai'an in East China's Jiangsu Province, sending her son off to war, capturing the themes of sacrifice, inheritance, and national spirit. The male group dance Xuezhandaodi (lit: Bloody Battle to the End) uses powerful physicality and integrated stage arts to recreate major battles led by the CPC during the war, including the Pingxingguan victory and the Hundred-Regiment Campaign.

"We must live up to the sacrifice of our forebears, to the mission of artists, and to the efforts of everyone involved onstage and offstage," said Zhou Liya, chief director of the gala. "To truly place ourselves in history and perform with reverence, that is the requirement for all participants."

A Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, use who attended the gala in person, told the Global Times that the live experience was striking and moving, with all performers fully immersing themselves to deliver a powerful emotional impact.

Many Chinese netizens who watched the live broadcast also expressed strong reactions on social media such as Sina Weibo, saying they were deeply moved by the program and that these artistic performances gave them a deeper understanding of the spirit of resistance demonstrated by their forebears.