Gala caps anniversary in grand style

A grand gala marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China took place in Tian'anmen Square on Tuesday evening.

The epic spectacle of songs, dances and fireworks was a vibrant display that celebrated a nation and its people.

The gala began at 8 pm with soaring fireworks that formed the number 70 in the sky.

More than 60,000 citizens took part in the mass pageantry, which lasted 90 minutes.

"The participation of ordinary people was definitely a highlight of the gala," said Pang Wei, executive deputy director of the gala's organization department.

In addition to professional artists, Pang said, most performers are from different fields and range in age from 6 to 66.

"There were teachers, students, factory workers, farmers and others who joined the celebration," Pang said.

Among the roughly 40 classic and beloved songs performed at the event were many ethnic folk songs, signifying the 70th anniversary of the PRC as a festival shared by Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

"It is a festival for everybody," said Hao Liya, a 60-year-old retired worker from Beijing. "We are the people who have witnessed the country's development."

Hao was one of nearly 30,000 dancers divided into 10 large formations. Hers performed a ribbon dance, while other formations waved glowing sticks and other props.

"When I was young, my family was so poor that even fresh fruits were a luxury. We had apples on the table, but only for decoration, not for eating," said Hao, who also participated in the 35th National Day parade in 1984.

She said China's rise has given its people a much better life and future.

"When I was dancing to the song My Motherland and I, I had tears in my eyes," Hao said. "Over the past 70 years, there has been great progress for China and also a great progress for each of us."

Directed by Zhang Yimou, creator of the astonishing opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the gala's theme performance presented China's rise with massive synchronized displays of gymnastics and dance.

There were nearly 3,300 performers, each holding a portable screen, who changed their formation to display different images, including flying doves and a growing tree.

On a stage next to the themed performance area was a symphony orchestra composed of nearly 1,000 members from 16 central or local symphony orchestras, along with a choir consisting of 1,400 students. Pang, one of the gala's planners, said the joint performance of the orchestra and choir at this scale was a first for the world.

Ren Jianxing, a 20-year-old gala volunteer, said the majestic spectacle gave him confidence in the nation's future.

"The atmosphere at the gala parallels the condition of our country - energetic and prosperous," he said. Ren was among the 160,000 volunteers who assisted all celebration events. Most of the parade volunteers were 19 to 30 years old.

"The rapid development of our country gives young people like me many opportunities and a bright future," he said.

As a junior student majoring in intelligent transportation, Ren said one of the major achievements he has noticed is the change in transportation.

Living in the Beijing suburbs, Ren said that 15 years ago it took him and his family seven hours to travel to Tian'anmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony, but now the same trip takes less than two hours.

"Tian'anmen Square is always a sacred place for me, and I am standing here as part of this great gala," he said. "I am so proud."

pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 10/02/2019 page2)