A warning bell tolled 18 times at the Zhongying Street Historical Museum Plaza in Shatoujiao, Yantian District on Saturday in memory of March 18 when a treaty was signed between the then Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) and Britain under which New Territory in Hong Kong was forcibly leased to Britain.

One side of Zhongying Street was governed by Hong Kong and the other was governed by the Chinese mainland.

In light of this, the Yantian District Government placed the “Zhongying Street Warning Bell” and designated that date to remind people not to forget national humiliations and to work hard to continue the revitalization of the Chinese nation.

The 22nd Zhongying Street commemorative events featured a theme of “Reflecting on the Past and Creating a Better Future,” conducting a series of activities including patriotic education and publicity, an offline Bell Ringing ceremony as well as online interaction.

Zhang Yuling, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yantian District Committee and head of Yantian’s Publicity Department, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

“History is the best textbook and can let us see the whole picture of where China is standing right now,” Zhang said, adding that we should continue to explore and take advantage of various resources at the Zhongying Street Historical Museum to bring residents’ hearts closer to the motherland.

Students of both Hong Kong and Yantian District together sang “Me and My Motherland” at the event’s ceremony, “which is significant for them to deepen their understanding of the history of this decades-old street, intensify their national identity and grasp the importance of safeguarding our country’s security,” said Chen Jianqing, schoolmaster of Fuk Tak Education Society Primary School in Hong Kong.

He also hopes that by having organized the younger generations’participatation in this meaningful activity, the youth will be further inspired to make contributions to China’s prosperity.