Though the mercury dropped dramatically on Friday, the cold weather did not dampen the spirit of celebration in the Chinese capital. 

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 the country’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 center 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’s 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 coordinated by the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau, was showcased along the Victoria Harbor waterfront to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic of 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 National Day.

(China Daily October 2, 2004)