Qian Yaocheng, 87, holds his walking stick like a gun. [Photo by Liu Mengyan/chinadaily.com.cn]

RUGAO, JIANGSU PROVINCE - Holding his walking stick like a gun, 87-year-old Qian Yaocheng said if there were war again, he would still go to the front.

Qian is just one of the veterans in central Jiangsu province who fought during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and China Daily reporter Liu Mengyang visited some World War II veterans and listened to their stories of fighting against Japanese invasion.

Most were in their 80s and 90s, living in their rural homes or nursing home, looking no different from other senior Chinese men except for their military medals and scars from bullet wounds.

Zhang Xianfu, wearing a camouflage jacket, started to sing a ballad which was popular at the central Jiangsu anti-Japanese base. Even after more than 70 years he did not forget a single line of the lyrics.