Nearly 8,000 people turned up at Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall on early Tuesday morning to observe the third official national remembrance day of the Nanjing Massacre.

The infamous massacre that was allegedly carried out by Japanese troops in 1937 led to the death of nearly 300,000 people in Nanjing City, then capital of China.

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People turned up with full spirit despite immensely heavy rains at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, which is constructed at one of the execution grounds and mass graves.

One of the members of China's politburo, Zhao Leji, said in a nationally televised speech that the massacre could never be denied and any activities to change the history will by spurned by Chinese people.

The event was telecasted on China's national television channel in an apparent aim to spread nationalistic fervor among Chinese people. The channel showed thousands of people singing the national anthem in chorus and doves being released and flying overhead as a giant bell tolled to end the ceremony.

China had observed the first anniversary of the infamous massacre on Dec. 13, 2014.

The Nanjing Massacre took place on Dec. 13, 1937, after Japanese troops invaded Nanjing City and allegedly slaughtered millions of Chinese citizens. Historians claimed that painful memories continue to haunt Chinese people even today, with China repeatedly demanding that Japan must issue public apology for the massacre.   

Tokyo, however, questioned the authenticity of China's claim. Several Japanese leaders said that the massacre never took place, while many suggested that China often exaggerates death toll numbers in a bid to defame Japan.

In October, Japan decided to stop the funding of UNESCO project after the organization decided to include documents about the Nanjing massacre in its "Memory of the World" program.     

Historians claimed that the Nanjing Massacre has left an indomitable blot on the Sino-Japanese relationship.   

TagsNanjing Massacre, china, China and Japan, 1937 Massacre