A group of international students have visited nine historical sites in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, to commemorate the Sept 18th Incident that marked Japan's invasion of China.

The trip was organized by Liaoning's provincial education bureau and Liaoning Education Association for International Exchange.

Students from nine countries including Russia, Thailand and Pakistan visited sites including the old site of Beidaying Barracks where Chinese and Japanese troops clashed for the first time, the history museum of the Sept 18th Incident, the former site of a prisoner-of-war camp and the Display Hall of the Former Site of Shenyang Military Tribunal for the Trial of Japanese War Criminals.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Sept 18th Incident. On Sept 18th, 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army launched a sudden attack on Shenyang, followed by Japan's total occupation of China's northeast.

The incident also marked the beginning of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the prelude to World War II.

Pakistani student Amjad Nawaz from Liaoning University praised China's efforts in commemorating the incident, saying "a nation that is unaware of its history is like a tree without roots".

A monument is seen at the History Museum of the Sept 18th Incident in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province. [Photo/IC]

Russian student Anna Van, also from Liaoning University, said the experience helped her learn more about the history by "walking in the land of Shenyang, visiting museums and various sites and feeling the blood of the martyrs who defended the mountains and rivers."

Ganguly Debolina Lakshmi Kanta, an Indian student from Shenyang Medical College, said Sept 18 is "not just a date, but also an emotion, a very sad story to reminisce about".

"Ninety years ago, huge destruction struck the heart of Northern China that took lives of hundreds and thousands of people.

"It's amazing to see how, despite all these unfortunate events, China stands strong and positive," she said.

"I'm extremely grateful to be a part of this opportunity, to get to know the history and to be empathetic toward the people who faced the unfortunate situations. It was truly a memorable experience."