This is the third year that China is observing Martyrs' Day. Let's take a look back at how the day came about.

On August the 31st 2014, lawmakers approved the establishment of a day to commemorate martyrs nationwide. This decision was made at a bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, to raise public awareness and a sense of national unity.

So it gives everyone a dedicated day to honor the pioneers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of the Chinese nation.

China has a long tradition of honouring its martyrs. The country now has about one million graves for them, visited every year by some 100 million people.

The government says about 200,000 martyrs' families now receive government pensions. They also enjoy preferential policies in education, employment and other sectors.