The ceremony officially began at 10 am. The military band played the national anthem, and the whole audience sang the anthem in unison.

Then everyone stood in silence, paying tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the People's Republic of China.

Afterward, children holding flowers sang and saluted the Monument to the People's Heroes.

The military band performed another solemn song for the flower presentation, while 18 soldiers steadily carried the flower baskets, walked slowly toward the monument, and placed the baskets at the base of the monument.

Xi, together with other Party and State leaders, stepped up to the foot of the monument, stopped at the flower baskets and then watched with great reverence.

Xi straightened the ribbons on the baskets before leading other senior officials in a walk around the monument to pay tribute.

Children and representatives from all walks of life also filed up to the monument in an orderly manner and laid flowers to pay homage.

China introduced and marked its first Martyrs' Day in 2014. The event falls on Sept 30 every year ahead of the country's National Day on Oct 1.

Since the first Martyrs' Day, Xi has made a tradition of paying tribute to the people's heroes on that day.

Every year on Martyrs' Day, local governments throughout the country organize public ceremonies to commemorate the martyrs.

At a ceremony awarding the highest State honors on Sunday, Xi called on the whole country to look to the heroes and forge ahead in unity to build a strong nation.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn