In the past week, one of the headline stories on TV news has been the rehearsal of an extraordinary parade expected for this coming National Day holiday (国庆) on October 1st, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
According to Xinhua news on People’s Daily Online, it is shaping up to be a much bigger show than the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony in terms of the number of people involved. It will also be only the 14th military parade since 1949:
President Hu Jintao will give a keynote speech, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the new China.
A military parade and mass pageant would follow, said a spokesperson for the 60th National Day celebration preparation committee of the Beijing municipal government Monday. The timetable for the celebrations is not yet available.
The military parade will highlight the achievements China has made in its defense sector during the past six decades and showcase its resolution to safeguard world and regional peace and stability.
The mass pageant would involve about 200,000 citizens and 60 floats, with the theme of “Motherland and I Marching Together”.
Beijing Review reported that five types of missiles will debut during the parade:
…including nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, conventional cruise missiles and medium-range and short-range conventional missiles, will be displayed for the first time at the highly anticipated military parade, said the expert, who asked to remain anonymous and has been closely following the preparations of the strategic force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
I am not a fan of any kind of weapon, but I think this is going to be something fun to watch if you are not going out during the 8-day public holiday. Given that most of us are not in Beijing, a member of the Tianya discussion forum posted a reminder and exhortation to the live broadcast director of CCTV:
The 60th anniversary military parade is very important to every one of us, so take good care of the live broadcast! Don’t ruin it! ( 60年阅兵式对我们每一个人都非常重要，阅兵式的电视转播一定要注意呀! 千万别被搞砸了).
I guess most of us still remember that NBC made the Beijing Olypics Openning look better than CCTV. No wonder!
Travel agents have gotten notice that Beijing is not open for tours during the first few days of the October 1-7 holiday. However, we’re not sure about tours from overseas.
If you are already curious (like me), we’ve included some additional images of the rehearsals below. A news report video, in Chinese, can also be viewed on Sina.
Such a “show-off”……
so what !!! It’s our pride.
what does “our” refer to??????????????????????????
“The military parade will highlight the achievements China has made in its defense sector during the past six decades and showcase its resolution to safeguard world and regional peace and stability.”
Satire at its very best.
It’s going to be one hell of a party – the greatest celebration in China since serf’s emancipation day. Only this time the Tibetans aren’t invited.
China has great pride in all it has become. Many have have and still suffer for the glory of China but their suffering will be hidden by the leaders from the world. The citizens of China are the strong bonds and true strenght of China. National Day Parade will be a show of great military pride and strenght. China will prove to the world that it is truly a WORLD POWER!
“China will prove to the world that it is truly a WORLD POWER!”
The manner of that proof is the troubling point.
I hope they invite Sarah Brightman to perform again!
No offense to Brightman’s talent but I seriously hope not because “You and Me” was just awful. Of course, if they come up with a better song that doesn’t sound like its trying to put me into a coma, I’m willing to give it a chance.