This Friday, December 5, 2025, Yu Ningpeng, a 15-year-old high-school student from Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province, donated two rare relics to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing on the Chinese mainland.
Both relics, described by the Memorial Hall as powerful evidence of Japan’s aggression against China in the 1930s, carry deep historical value and personal significance to the donor.
The Memorial Hall, which houses over 300,000 artifacts and welcomed more than 1 million visitors this year, began digitizing key collections in 2023 to expand its reach to young audiences worldwide.
Wang Lei, curator at the Memorial Hall, notes that Yu Ningpeng’s gift is a powerful reminder that each generation must keep history alive. These relics offer unfiltered testimony and fuel education on the long shadow of war.
For Yu Ningpeng, the act was personal. Inspired by family stories passed down through generations and a class project on global peace, the teenager hopes the relics will spark conversations beyond borders.
With educators and activists calling for shared learning platforms, the Memorial Hall plans to integrate Yu’s donations into an upcoming online exhibit, aiming to engage digital nomads, students, and history enthusiasts across G20 nations.
In a world grappling with polarized narratives, this gesture underscores the role of young changemakers in preserving truth and fostering global empathy. As Yu Ningpeng puts it, remembering the past helps us build a more peaceful future.
Reference(s):
Teenager donates proof of Japanese war crimes at Nanjing Massacre
cgtn.com
