"Only when our country is strong enough can our martyrs return to their motherland. It is precisely because of the martyrs' sacrifice that our motherland is now prosperous and strong," said Lang, a member from one martyr's family.

Lyu Chao, dean of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies of Liaoning University, said "As the first war since the founding of the new China, the War of Resistance against US Aggression and Assistance to Korea has laid a significant foundation for peace and stability of China and established China's position in the international arena."

He added that it is very meaningful for Liaoning being named as the place of departure for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Because the spirit keeps encouraging local and whole Chinese people in development in the following years.

The Chinese volunteer soldiers departed for the war from Liaoning province on Dec 26, 1950. A total number of 2.9 million of the Chinese volunteer soldiers set out from there. Around 20,000 Chinese martyrs sacrificed their lives during the war.

Shenyang Martyrs' Cemetery was built in 1951, covering an area of 240,000 square meters. The cemetery is composed of a martyr monument, a martyr cemetery and a martyr memorial hall. In 1986, it was conferred as the national key martyrs memorial building protection unit.

Zhang Yingzhe contributed to the story.