Eight years ago, an American photographer followed in his grandfather's footsteps, travelling here to China to help document Japanese atrocities in Nanjing. He's back once again, this time with a goal of creating a new film about the changes which have taken place in Nanjing over the past 80 years.
As a professional photographer, Chris Magee was inspired to do his new film project when he came to Nanjing in August for this year's Zijin Grass International Commemorative Medal of Peace award ceremony.
Magee's grandfather, John Magee, was an American missionary working in China.
He was critical in helping save thousands of lives through the creation of the Nanjing Safety Zone with a group of other foreigners just ahead of the Japanese breakthrough into the former Chinese capital 80 years ago today.
But John Magee is also known for the films and pictures he shot during the Nanjing Massacre, then managed to smuggle out of China to inform the world about one of the worst atrocities in modern times.
Now, Chris Magee's new film project is hoping to capture the contrasting views of specific places in Nanjing, not only to review history, but show how things have changed in the city over the past 80 years.
The filming is being done in three phases.
In October, Magee took photos of buildings that were taken by his grandfather, including Yijiang Gate, Gulou Hospital, Jiangnan Cement Factory, Qixia Temple, and Nanjing Normal University.
The second phase kicked off late last month, with Magee mainly focusing on the area which became the Nanjing Safety Zone.
Magee's filming there included a stop at the former headquarters of the International Committee which established the Safety Zone.
The third phase of the project is scheduled to start later this month, which will see Magee document some of the current landmarks of the city.
Magee is also planning to publish a photo album, which he intends to display at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.
Magee was also one of the founders of the safe zone international committee and refugee hospital, and rescued a huge number of Chinese who would have otherwise died during the Japanese invasion.
In 2002, his son donated the camera he used to record the events to the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.
