BEIJING, Jan. 8 -- A beautification campaign, similar to the one undertaken for the Olympic Games, is under way in Beijing in preparation for China's 60th anniversary on Oct 1, the Beijing municipal government said.

    Though still 10 months away, the urban landscape authority has already started preparing for arguably the largest celebration of the National Day since 1999, the government said in a release on Tuesday.

    Earlier media reports said although the government, under the cloud of the economic slowdown, will be extra careful while spending on the celebrations, it will still hold an army parade on Oct 1.

    Starting April, the urban landscape authority will begin to decorate Beijing's core areas, including Tian'anmen Square, as well as all major roads such as Chang'an Street for the occasion, the government said.

    During the National Day celebrations, the city will also monitor its landscape using the same model developed for the Games.

    "The celebration of our 60th anniversary is a key project this year," the municipal government said.

    Beijing had planted about 40 million flowers citywide during the two-month Olympics and Paralympics last summer. About 1 million flowers were planted at Tian'anmen Square alone.

    Parks, travel resorts and historic sites will get another facelift to "create a pleasant image for the National Day", the release said.

    As of now though, Tian'anmen Square authorities have not been informed about the scale of this year's plan, but they "expect major decorations", its supervisor said yesterday.

    The central government also stressed that Beijing should implement the same level of public security for the National Day as it did for the Olympics.

    Beijing should build on its experience from the Games and prepare for the grand occasion this year, Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security, said during his visit to the Beijing public security bureau located near Tian'anmen square, on Monday.

    (Source: China Daily)