The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆) documents the killings carried out by Japanese Imperial Army troops after they captured Nanjing in December 1937. The death toll is estimated at 200,000-300,000 people. It is one of China's most visited memorial sites and one of its most sobering.
The museum complex includes outdoor sculpture, underground galleries with documentary photographs, testimonies from survivors and soldiers, and a "bone pit" where excavated remains are visible. The scale of the memorial — the design by He Jingtang is monumental and deliberate — prepares you for what's inside. The final room is a lit display of the names of known victims. Allow two to three hours; bring composure. Admission is free but requires prior booking on weekends.