China's National Day celebrations conclude with ode to motherland

China's grand celebrations of the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic concluded Thursday evening after a chorus by about 60,000 people including President Hu Jintao and other leaders.

Amid applause, cheers and fireworks, the leaders walked into the joyous crowd on Tian'anmen Square, dancing and singing the classic "Ode To The Motherland".


Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins the grand gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the Tian'anmen square in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

The evening gala that lasted about 100 minutes turned Tian'anmen Square into a sea of festivity.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and all the other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee overlooked the performances on Tian'anmen Rostrum with Hu before they joined the crowd.


Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin (C) joins the grand gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the Tian'anmen square in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Former President Jiang Zemin also attended the gala.

Local residents, public servants, company staff, students and servicemen, all dressed in festive costumes, took part in the gala eulogizing New China's great development and unity among all ethnic groups.


Fireworks are seen in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009.(Xinhua/Gong Lei)


People gesture during a grand performance staged in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yongji)

Source:Xinhua