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56 national unity pillars to exit Tian'anmen Square
By Hu Yongqi (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-24 15:56
Fifty-six national unity pillars will be moved to the Olympic Green before the end of this year, said the Tian'anmen Square management committee Tuesday.
The pillars representing China's 56 ethnic groups were installed in Tian'anmen Square for celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
An anonymous worker at the committee said they had been notified to move the pillars to the park, well-known for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, on Monday, adding that many tourist destinations including the Great Wall's Juyongguan section were fighting for the pillars.
Located between the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum, the pillars attracted millions of tourists during the National Day holiday in October. Many visitors said the pillars should stay there. But experts said the pillars are not well coordinated with surroundings and will shadow other buildings.
