About 100 Chinese veterans of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) have gathered in a five-star hotel in Beijing in readiness for the parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory they fought for.

At lunchtime, they slowly wandered into the cafeteria. Most of them are aged over 90, with each accompanied by a younger relative.

Wei Ke, 95, a former Eighth Route Army soldier, and his son sat at a round table and ate. They had traveled 1,800 kilometers from Chengdu, Sichuan province, to Beijing 10 days ago.