First rehearsal for National Day celebrations concluded

The first joint rehearsal for the upcoming National Day celebrations ended early Sunday morning in Beijing, about three weeks ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct 1.

The rehearsal was held from 11 pm on Saturday to the wee hours of Sunday in Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing. About 90,000 people were involved in the rehearsal and related support services.

Six parts of the celebrations were rehearsed, including a grand military parade which lasted an hour, a mass pageant and performances as well as the on-site test of the control system for a fireworks display, according to the media center for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the PRC.

The center said the rehearsal of the pageant focused on assembly and evacuation, marching in formation, and cooperation with the orchestra and choir. The rehearsal also helped performers get familiar with the venue.

The rehearsal was well organized and achieved the expected results, the center said.

Beijing municipal authorities expressed appreciation to local residents for their understanding and support of the rehearsal.

Beijing's public security bureau issued a traffic control notice on Sept 2 before the rehearsal, saying traffic restrictions would be imposed on roads around Tian'anmen Square area at different times.

From 4 pm Saturday till the end of the rehearsal, several streets around the Wangfujing, Qianmen and Chongwenmen shopping and sightseeing areas barred vehicles from parking, except for those needed for the rehearsal.

From 6 pm Saturday till the end of the activity, access to areas including north of Jinshui Bridge in front of Tian'anmen Square, south of the Palace Museum's Meridian Gate, East Tian'anmen Square and the west and south side streets of the Great Hall of the People was prohibited to vehicles and pedestrians.

China Daily - Xinhua

(China Daily Global 09/09/2019 page4)