On August 31, the Chinese top legislature approved the establishment of a national day to commemorate martyrs.

According to a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Martyrs' Day will be marked with events across the country on September 30 every year.

It is the third national memorial day in China, following Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3 and National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims on December 13, both ratified by the NPC Standing Committee in February.

Martyrs, as defined by the government, are "people who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and prosperity, as well as the welfare of the people since the First Opium War (1840-42)."

It is believed that China has about 20 million martyrs. However, as many of them did not leave their names during wartime, only 1.93 million martyrs have been listed in the government directory. About 300 more people have been identified as martyrs annually in recent years.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs initiated feasibility studies on setting the day back in 2005, and won public support after soliciting feedback in the following years, according to ministry officials.