Zhang Ziwen, a PhD student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, recalled Jiang's active role in patriotic events and movements against Japanese aggression in the 1940s, when the late leader was a student at the university.

"During his study at the university… he adopted Marxism, chose the path for his whole life, and established his life's ideal of striving for the nation's liberation and people's happiness," Zhang said.

A memorial service for the late Chinese leader will start at 10 am on Tuesday in Beijing. People across the country will take part in a three-minute silent tribute, while those in vehicles will be encouraged to honk their horns and air defense sirens will be sounded for three minutes.

The People's Bank of China, China's central bank, announced on Sunday that trading in the interbank bond, money, foreign exchange, bill and gold markets will be temporarily suspended for three minutes for the tribute.

Xinhua contributed to this story.