Bronze sculptures, cobbled path roads, towering monuments and columns of pines give an aura of grave serenity to the a monument and sculpture garden, a memorial to Chinese people's triumph over the War of Resistance Against Japan during 1937-45.

Japanese troops invaded China in 1937 and killed 20 million people.

After five years in the making, the garden opens to the public on August 16 in Beijing.

The aura also distills more than 55 years of Chinese people's hatred for the Japanese invaders. It speaks for hopes for a better, more peaceful world for all people.

The 15-meter-high copper monument in the garden's central square is made of granite and smashed tank ruins, which symbolize Chinese people's determination to destroy invaders and protect world peace. The central square covers 2,500 square meters, and the monument bears President Jiang Zemin's autograph.

Inside the 22,500-square-meter sculpture area, 38 works of traditional Chinese bronze remind visitors of the solemn, stirring war 55 years ago.

Sculptors say the sculptures were divided into four theme groups according to the different stages of the war.

The sculpture area radiates paths to the rest of the garden, connoting the Chinese people's desire to destroy the Japanese invaders.

The garden, in the Fengtai District, also has 85,600 square meters of green space. All in all it covers 20 hectares and cost 315 million yuan (US$38 million). Some 550 families were moved to make way for the garden.

(China Daily)