Beijingers participating in the millennium revelry spent a sleepless night December 31.

Banners proclaiming "New Era," "New Life" and "Welcoming 2000" are hanging throughout the capital city. The numbers "2000" in flower arrangements and signboards have been put up on Tiananmen Square at the heart of Beijing, which this year has witnessed the celebration of New China's 50th anniversary and the return of Macao. More than 700 lanterns have been strung along Pingan Avenue to the north of the square to further illuminate the already-sparkling capital.

The China Century Altar has just been completed and was used as a symbolic site for Chinese to greet the new millennium.

More than 10,000 people gathered Friday night and stay through the early hours of New Year's Day. Hundreds of young people were arranged in the form of a huge clock, which "count down" to the year 2000.

Fireworks showed for Yuyuantan Park, Beijing west railway station and the Yangfang intersection on Changan Avenue, the main thoroughfare through the capital. Special fireworks

displays making the number "2000" were set off.

A New Year's concert was staged in the Great Hall of the People on Friday evening,featuring some 120 top musicians.

Wangfujing and Xidan shopping districts also held some traditional performances such as dragon dancing and "yangge" folk dancing. Reservations are full for most restaurants.

The first rays of sunlight will beam down on a village in the Miyun County in the east, where a number of people have planned to gather. A big celebration will also be held on Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.

All post offices will be open till 2 a.m. on January 1. Some will give away free commemorative envelopes. Twenty bus routes will be in operation till 1 am on January 1.

A grand flag-raising ceremony was held on Tiananmen Square January 1. A national flag which traveled with the Shenzhou, China's first unmanned spacecraft, flown.