The Lisbon Maru was sunk off the Zhoushan Islands in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, in October 1942. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsrbs]

A photo exhibition of the Lisbon Maru rescue incident opened in Zhoushan Library in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 1.

The exhibition will run until June 30.

The exhibition displays archives, news reports collected in the Republic of China era (1912-1949), and oral archives documented from fishermen involved in the rescue efforts in 2003.

The exhibition represents a historical episode epitomizing the amazing self-sacrifice and the very best of humanity of Zhoushan fishermen.

The Lisbon Maru was a cargo ship that was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army to carry more than 1,800 British prisoners of war, as well as weapons and army rations, from Hong Kong to Japan in October 1942.

The vessel was hit by the US Navy off the Zhoushan Islands, and the Japanese tried to prevent the prisoners from escaping before abandoning the ship. A total of 843 people died, while 384 more were rescued by local fishermen.