A group of around a dozen Hong Kong-based media representatives began a two-day tour in Shenzhen on Wednesday, visiting wartime ruins and historical sites to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

On Wednesday afternoon, the group toured the Dongjiang Column memorial hall in Pingshan, Shenzhen. The Dongjiang Column was a major guerrilla force that fought against Japanese aggression in the region during the war. The site also features the former office of the Advance News Agency, the official newspaper of the column, as well as the reconstructed former residence of Zeng Sheng, the column’s commander.

Researcher Wang Yong shared with the group the history of the Dongjiang Column and its significant contributions during the war. He highlighted the participation of and generous support from many Hong Kong residents, who donated resources and joined the war effort without fear of sacrifice.

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Wang noted that the construction of the memorial hall received support from Hong Kong. He added that Hong Kong philanthropist Henry Fok Ying-tung donated HK$800,000 ($102,760) — the largest private contribution to the project.

Starry Lee Wai-king, lawmaker and convenor of the trip’s organizer — the Working Group on Patriotic Education, under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee — said that visiting the site at such a meaningful time and learning about the martyrs’ contributions to the nation made her feel emotional. “Although we live in an era of peace, we must remember that only a strong nation can bring peace,” Lee said. She emphasized that young people should equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to contribute more to the country and Hong Kong.

Pingshan district has attracted technology companies such as BYD to set up their headquarters there, and Lee said she hopes the area will continue to play a leading role in technological innovation and continue to develop into a rapidly growing hub for technology, providing a platform for young people to leverage their strengths.

There are currently three Dongjiang Column memorial halls in China, located in Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou.

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The group also visited the site of the Dongjiang Column headquarters — a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level — on Wednesday afternoon.

A guide, surnamed Sun, told China Daily that over 30,000 visitors came to the site last year, and there have been about 14,000 visits so far this year. Most visitors are from Guangdong province, and there are some schools in Hong Kong and Macao that have organized group tours, he said.

The group of reporters is scheduled to visit more wartime historical sites in Dongguan and Guangzhou on Thursday before concluding their trip.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com