Remains of the military dike in Xiaoshan district. [Photo/WeChat account: xiaoshanfabu]

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the Anti-Fascist War (1939-45).

In Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province — residents and historians are retracing the history of the military dike, a 3.8-kilometer defensive fortification built in 1937 with 12 bunkers along the Qiantang River.

Though little remains today, the dike once served as the first line of defense in eastern Zhejiang. Local civilians and soldiers relied on it to repel repeated Japanese incursions, holding the frontline for nearly two years.

Oral histories recall fierce battles and heavy sacrifices made on the embankment, where "gun holes were everywhere".

Once a wartime barrier, the site is now part of the bustling Qianjiang Century City, one of the most renowned CBDs in the city.

From blood-soaked defense to a hub of finance, technology and innovation, Xiaoshan's transformation reflects both remembrance of its wartime resilience and pride in its modern growth.

Bustling Qianjiang Century City in Xiaoshan. [Photo/WeChat account: xiaoshanfabu]