Qiu Bingji. [Photo by Huo Yan / China Daily]

Wei Zhongcheng, a sergeant in the Chinese army, took part in some of the most bloody battles of 1943 and 1944, including in Binyang, Wuzhou, Liuzhou and Guilin.

"I witnessed a Japanese army unit surrender in Hainan Island in 1945," the 95-year-old remembered. "They went down on their knees in crowds, lowering their heads. It felt like they were kneeling to the whole Chinese people."

Rong Jie, a local government employee who escorted the contingent to Beijing, said that for these elderly soldiers, "home" is a place in their memories where they live with their brothers in arms.