People in Jiangsu were rejoiced in the grand evening gala marking the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China that started at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing Tuesday.
With tens of thousands of people singing, dancing and cheering, and fireworks illuminating much of downtown Beijing, the heart of the national capital was turned into a sea of festivity as a grand evening gala was held Tuesday to mark New China's 70th birthday.
President Xi Jinping attended the gala, a major event of the anniversary celebrations, along with Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan, as well as many other leaders, incumbent and retired.
Minutes prior to the gala, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders arrived at Tian'anmen Rostrum, waving to the people at Tian'anmen Square amid cheers.
The 90-minute gala started at around 8 p.m. when fireworks rocketed into the sky, displaying the number 70 over the square.
A central performance area spanning the square and the southern point of Golden Water Bridge at the foot of Tian'anmen Rostrum was set aside for large-scale performances.
In addition, part of Chang'an Avenue was divided into 10 sections where tens of thousands of people sang and danced in groups, extolling the People's Republic of China and the new era.
A 90-year-old veteran soldier
In 1949, I followed Chairman Mao from Xibaipo to Beijing
and participated in the founding ceremony
At that time, I was in charge of the security
Today, it is 70th birthday, and I am also very happy
to see the ceremony at the same position
The performances began with "Ode to the Red Flag," with more than 3,000 performers carrying light panels portraying a huge national flag, and scenes of soldiers guarding the flag and children saluting the flag.
Performers danced to songs that won the hearts of generations of Chinese over the past decades during the gala.
A participant
We are of the same age people
with the People’s Republic of China
We are the witness, contributors and beneficiaries
So we are very excited to see our country flourish today
We also hope that our country will
become more and more prosperous
May the next generation be able to make greater contributions
to the struggle and development of the country
Zhou Haijiang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hongdou Group
I am proud of our country
I am proud of our party
I am proud of the whole development
As a private entrepreneur, we must do our best
to fulfill our political responsibility, social responsibility
and development responsibility so as to make new contribution
to the construction of a new Jiangsu
With the last round of fireworks flowering in the night sky, the gala concluded at around 9:30 p.m. amid the classic song "Ode to the Motherland" sung by all the participants including Xi and other Chinese leaders.
