Founding fathers' families party with pride

Seventy-three-year-old Li Min remembers the day in 1949 when she experienced the first National Day parade from the central leadership compound of Zhongnanhai, on the western side of Tian'anmen Square.

From her Chang'an Avenue vantage point, she clearly heard the jubilant crowds roar their excitement.

"Long live the People's Republic of China, Long live Chairman Mao!" the then 13-year-old said, remembering the thousands of excited people expressing their happiness, optimism and respect for her father - Mao Zedong - who proclaimed the founding of New China from the Tian'anmen Rostrum.