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Sichuan celebrates PRC's 60th anniversary

By Zhang Ao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-10-04 11:17

Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China began early on October 1st in Sichuan, when thousands of people came to watch a flag-rising ceremony held at 7:00 am at Tianfu Square, the center of Chengdu, Sichuan's capital city.

Local residents holding China's national flags are seen in Chengdu. [chinadaily.com.cn]

"China has changed enormously", Chen Xiujiang, 81, a rural Chinese teacher in Dayi County of Sichuan, said he has witnessed the great changes in China and Sichuan.

Full Coverage:  60th Anniversary of PRC Related readings:  Domestic tourism heats up during China's National Day Holiday  Railways carry record 6.93m passengers on National Day  'I do' wedding fever on National Day  Record 6.93M take trains on National Day  56 ethnic groups celebrate National Day

"When I started as a teacher in 1956, my salary was only 32 yuan, and I had to save several months' salary to buy a watch. Now, the pension for my wife and me is each beyond 2000 yuan. We live a decent life and still have a great sum of saving," he said, waving a little national flag in his hand.

"I've never seen anything so wonderful before. It's a great day, and I wish all Chinese people a happy national holiday and good luck", Woolf Grant, a tourist from the United States, said.

After the flag-rising ceremony, citizens in Sichuan gathered around their TV sets, computers, and public LCDs to watch the military parade on Beijing's Tian'anmen Square. Waves of applause were heard when the most advanced weapons were displayed for the first time to the world.

"China is such a strong country! I feel so proud for being a Chinese", Li Yan, a freshman in Sichuan University said, "As a university student, I should work harder to obtain more knowledge and to improve my ability, in order to make a great contribution to my motherland."

During the day, thousands of people flocked to Happy Valley Theme Park in Chengdu, a main venue of the 6th International Food and Tour Festival. Local and international dishes were all available for people to try, including traditional Sichuan snacks, Taiwan's Salty-Water Chicken, Turkish barbecue and Japanese sushi.

When night fell, hundreds of people went to the side of the Jinjiang River to set off Kongming lanterns. The Kongming Lantern, or sky lantern, is designed to float up into the sky after being lit.

The lanterns are thought to bring good luck, and people often write messages on them that they hope will come true before they send them off. Many people used the lanterns to wish China a happy birthday and a more prosperous future, or expressed gratitude to those who helped the province in the wake of last year's magnitude-8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake.