"I have never known so many truths of the Nanjing Massacre before," said Yang Shou after attending the launch of a new six-part documentary film yesterday.

Yang, 28, who lives in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, said he was deeply shocked by the film, 1937: The Truth of Nanjing.

One part tells how just before the massacre began on December 13, the Chinese government at the time escorted all of the Japanese people back home.

They even sent soldiers to guard their trains so that the officials, businessmen and their relatives could safely leave Nanjing, capital of the Republic of China (1912-49) for Japan.

"However, Chinese people's humane deeds were changed by the Japanese invaders' cruel massacre," said the narrator in the film.

With tears in his eyes, Yang said: "Every Chinese should watch this film and better understand the history."

He was among more than 100 people who took part in the ceremony and watched the film, including government officials, reporters, students and common citizens.

"The film, which is the longest and most detailed documentary about the Nanjing Massacre, will air from tonight on both national and local TV channels such as CCTV 10, Jiangsu Satellite TV and Jiangsu Children's Channel," said Shao Wenlin at the ceremony.

As head of Nanjing Film Studio, which has produced the film, Shao introduced the film and spoke of how it was made.

It is divided into six 40-minute parts.

The six parts are titled Japanese-occupied Ancient Capital, A City of Blood Sea, International Rescue, Piles of Dead Bodies, The Sword of Justice and In the Name of Peace.

The first tells how 20 bombers took off from Nagasaki in Japan on August 15, 1937, preparing to attack Nanjing.

Japanese troops occupied Shanghai and Nanjing, and more than 300,000 citizens and disarmed soldiers were killed.

The next part reveals how international refugee camps and charity organizations saved some lives.

It goes on to reveal the triumph of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, how war criminals were sentenced by international military tribunal, and, finally, how Chinese people make their declaration of peace today.

The various stages are told from different angles by historians, survivors and their relatives, old Japanese soldiers, international friends and eye-witnesses.

The film has been made by the provincial government, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (Group), Nanjing Film Studio and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

Scores of planning conferences took place before it was put together in May, and altogether six production units worked on it.

(China Daily December 13, 2005)