An exhibition of historical facts on Nanjing Massacre, an atrocity committed by Japanese intruding troops more than six decades ago, is to open in the National Museum Wednesday.

The 20-day exhibition, themed on "patriotism, justice and peace" at the sponsorship of the provincial government of Jiangsu, is free to visitors.

The exhibition is held to commemorate China's victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the victory of the world's war against Fascism. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.

Japanese aggressor troops occupied Nanjing, then the national capital of China, on Dec. 13, 1937, and then launched a six-week long massacre. Historical records showed that more than 300,000 Chinese people, not only disarmed soldiers but also civilian victims, were massacred in the Holocaust.

Zhu Chengshan, curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre, said at a press conference Tuesday that he hopes the exhibition can serve as a reminder for the people not to forget history and to cherish peace.

Nanjing Massacre was one of the most barbarous crimes the humankind witnessed during World War II, Zhu said.

"The massacre, which left a huge stain in the history of human civilization, is not to be forgotten, distorted or even erased," the curator said.

More than 600 pictures and 753 items of historical relics will be displayed in the exhibition.

It is the first time for so many tangible evidences of the Japanese barbarity to be displayed, Zhu said, and the exhibition marks the debut of more than 80 percent displayed items.

Documentary films shot by both Japanese intruding troops and foreign witnesses during the massacre will be shown in the exhibition.

Some documents of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East will also appear in the exhibition.

Zhu said some survivors of infamy Nanjing Massacre will attend Tuesday's opening ceremony of the exhibition.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2005)