Nanjing massacre sites lock out the public on remembrance day

Nanjing residents criticised the city's handling of the Nanking massacre remembrance, saying it was unfair to keep the public away from official ceremonies where they hoped to pay respects to the victims.

One elderly man asked why authorities banned regular people from events aimed at fostering patriotism.

President Xi Jinping gave a strongly worded speech at the Nanking massacre memorial hall in front of an audience of high-ranking officials, PLA soldiers and pupils all meticulously hand-picked, according to an official at the site.

"People without a pass can't enter the hall while the state memorial ceremony is being held," said the official, who declined to give her name. "Since last month municipal authorities have been screening the ceremony's audience and only those without political black marks can receive a pass."

This annoyed some people who were hoping take part in the ceremony. "They attracted us to respond [to the national day] and now block us. What do they really want to do?" said Pei Xiaolong, an 18-year-old student who made a one-hour subway journey from Southeast University only to be denied entrance. "Why didn't the authorities inform us that the memorial hall was closed today?"

A notice posted outside said a religious ritual attended by monks from China, Japan and South Korea was being conducted inside the hall. The official said regular admission would begin today.