Seven decades after Japanese soldiers poured through the old city walls of Nanjing , launching a six-week killing spree known as the Nanjing Massacre, the memories are still raw for

"I really hate the Japanese," Zhang said, dissolving into tears."I have repeated this thousands of times. I really, really hate them."

Now 81, Zhang was only 11 during the infamous Japanese rampage, a seizure so violent that it's also known as the Rape of Nanking, the city's former name.

For Zhang, that's an accurate description, for she, too, was raped.

China this week marks the 70th anniversary of the massacre, reopening the Memorial Hall to the Victims after a two-year $33 million face-lift. But China treads a fine line as it promotes condemnation of the massacre while trying to protect trade and diplomatic relations with Japan , which are on the mend after years of severe stress.