BEIJING: An astonishing 300,000 people congregated at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sunday morning to cerebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a spectacular event that marked a nationwide outpouring of jubilation.
During the early hours of the morning, numerous tourists eagerly made their way to Tiananmen Square, anticipating prime vantage points to witness the National Day flag-raising ceremony. By approximately 5:00 a.m., the square had already been packed with a sea of people. Some waved their national flags and posed for photographs alongside massive flower arrangements, while others adorned their faces with red stickers bearing the message “I love you, China” – all in eager anticipation of the flag-raising moment.
At 6:05 a.m., the trumpet heralding the flag-raising ceremony resonated across the square, signifying the official commencement of the event. Members of the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, marching with a resounding and synchronized cadence, emerged from the gate tower, crossed the Golden Water Bridge, and escorted the five-starred red flag to Tiananmen Square.
By 6:10 a.m., the PLA’s military band began playing the national anthem, while the flag bearer hoisted the national flag high into the sky. The five-starred red flag ascended slowly amid the morning light.
The ceremony was attended by not only the people present at the scene but also a vast number of internet users, many of whom posted online comments expressing their best wishes for the nation.
October 1 this year is not the first but the third day of an eight-day holiday in China that combines both the Mid-Autumn festival and the National Day, and many people have already embarked on a joyous journey after a family reunion.
This holiday is also special because it marks the first in post-COVID China, when travel and consumption are expected to rebound to levels much higher than the past three years. As the festivity approaches its midpoint, many localities have released data showing the number of tourists they have received and the revenues generated.
In south China’s Hunan Province, more than 2.7 million trips were made to over 950 tourist attractions on Saturday, representing a year-on-year growth of 71.6 percent, while the revenue generated amounted to 370 million yuan ($50.7 million), showing a 49.1 percent increase than the last year, according to the local authorities. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
