Hu joins park revellers on National Day
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-02 07:54

President Hu Jintao, who took over as chairman of the Central Military Commission last month, joined holidaying Beijingers on Friday morning at Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) Park.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) cradles a little boy as he joins in 200,000 people to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) Park, Friday, Oct. 1, 2004. [cctv.com]

Hu watched children dressed in festive clothes perform a welcoming dance as hundreds of pigeons and balloons were set free into the skies.

The first stop by Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, was an exhibition entitled "Tibetan People are Singing."

He then stopped at a nearby pavilion, where several schoolchildren were working on a painted scroll entitled "I'm growing up along with the motherland."

"I hope that you will be able to realize the goal of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with your own hands," Hu remarked to the youngsters.

During his walkabout, Hu watched performances and visited exhibitions.

National Day celebrated across nation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) smiles at the crowd while visiting the Beihai Park in Beijing, October 1, 2004. [cctv.com]

More than 15,000 youngsters gathered on Beijing's Tian'anmen Square, the very heart of the city early on Friday morning, to sing the National Anthem and salute the National Flag at a grand flag-hoisting ceremony to mark New China's 55th National Day.

The crowds burst into a cheerful hurrah when the flag reached the tip of the mast, turning the square into a ground of jubilance decorated with thousands of pots of flowers.

The cold wind did not chill people's enthusiasm to flock to the parks to experience the beauty of Beijing during the holiday season.

Party and State leaders also joined 200,000 local people at National Day celebrations held in five major parks across Beijing.

Most of the visitors in Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) Park gathered around the centre stage of the park to watch performances by artists from the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Attention focused not only on their natural dance techniques and distinctive dress, but also on a kind of six-string bowed instrument.

Tibetans there presented visitors with a Hada, a white silk ribbon traditionally given by Tibetans as a good luck token to guests, and some Tibetan food and wine.

According to Dawa Ciren, a top Tibetan performer, the unique instrument remains quite popular in his hometown.

He said he had been to many countries and regions and now it is time for him to bring the instrument, a symbol of Tibetan' wisdom, and happy melodies to Beijing, as a blessing of good will for the motherland.

"Beijing is the best place to view the festive mood during National Day," said Dai Yulan, a visitor to the city.

She came to see her relatives and was amazed to see the capital has been turned into a sea of flowers with numerous national flags flying outside homes and shops and from the tops of government and commercial buildings.

Across the nation, people held various kinds of celebrations in city parks, squares and entertainment facilities, although millions of others will take the week-long holiday for travels or shopping tours.

In Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, 55 couples tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony on Friday.

The National Day holidays, during which the weather is usually the best in China, have long been regarded as a good time to marry.

In Hong Kong, a 23-minute fireworks display sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau, was showcased along the Victoria Harbour waterfront to celebrate the founding of New China.

An estimated 500,000 took in the night sky display, said local police.

Chinese embassies in a number of countries, including the Chinese embassies in Viet Nam, Japan and Australia held receptions to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

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