An art installation shows invading Japanese forces agree to their unconditional surrender to Chinese troops in Songdian village in 1945. [Photo/WeChat account: hzyhkjc]

In China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province — bore both immense suffering and lasting historical significance.

As a key point on the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo defense line, the city fell to Japanese forces in December 1937 and endured eight years of occupation.

More than 55,000 lives were lost, hundreds of thousands forced into labor and economic losses exceeded 430 million yuan — the value in July; at that time, the total industrial capital in Hangzhou was only 20-30 million yuan.

Yet Hangzhou also became a stage of resilience. Heroes such as poet Yu Dafu and pilot Gao Zhihang gave their lives, while battles like the Battle of Jianqiao and the Defense of Dongzhou highlighted local resistance.

Sites including the Hall of Surrender and mass graves remain as solemn reminders. The Communist Party of China played a vital role through negotiations, mobilization and the establishment of resistance bases, while Zhejiang University's wartime relocation became known as the "Long March of Education".

Hangzhou's resistance was not isolated. During the war, the Korean Provisional Government was based in the city for three years, while American and British allies provided medical and military support in the region. Together, these efforts made Hangzhou a microcosm of China's contribution to the global anti-fascist struggle.

Today, the city's streets still echo with the memory of sacrifice and endurance. Hangzhou's wartime story stands both as testament to national resilience and as a reminder to cherish peace.

The wreckage of a Japanese fighter downed during the Battle of Jianqiao, or the 814 Aerial War — the first major air victory in China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. [Photo/WeChat account: hzda_gf]