BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic unity became a major theme of a grand gala in Beijing Thursday evening marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Dressed in traditional festive costumes of different ethnic groups, tens of thousands of performers danced joyously to the rhythm of famous folk songs of different ethnic groups on Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing.
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A view of the Tian'anmen Square before a grand gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
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Apart from the major ethnic group of Han, China has 55 minor ethnic groups, whose people are always characterized by their distinctive costumes, folk customs, songs and dances.
Many of their folk songs eulogize the love between young couples, the love for their homeland and the love for the nation. Some of the songs were performed at the gala to voice Chinese people's cherish for ethnic unity.
Take "The Wonderful Xinjiang" for instance, the song of Uygur ethnic group gives the audience a vivid depiction of the remote Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China: a vast expanse of pasture and farmland, flocks and herds, succulent grapes, melons, pears and peaches, and rich mineral resources of coal, iron, gold and silver.
In the Tibetan song "The Emancipated Serfs Are Singing," the writer mentions the images of glowing sun, soaring eagle, beautiful spring scenery on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a shining expanse of white snow on mountains and the torrents of the Yarlung Zangbo River to convey the relaxation and happiness of Tibetans who have bidden farewell to the bitter days of being serfs.
In the latter part of the song, the lyrics read, "Chairman Mao is like the red sun, our savior is the Communist Party of China, the emancipated serfs are singing, the happy song spreads far away."
Similar themes singing praise of Chairman Mao Zedong, the Party and the Chinese People's Liberation Army can also be heard through many other folk songs of different ethnic groups.
In the folk song of Gaoshan ethnic group in the island province of Taiwan, "Girls In Mount Ali," young men are described as high mountains while young women are likened to green water, and they will never separate from each other -- just like green water always surrounds high mountains.
China's National Day celebrations conclude with ode to motherland
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- 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". Full story
Chinese leaders join crowd at National Day gala
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders joined tens of thousands of people Thursday evening at a grand gala celebrating New China's 60th birthday.
Amid applause, cheers and fireworks, they walked into the joyous crowd after watching the evening gala that turned Tian'anmen Square a sea of festivity. Full story
Fireworks portrays Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Shenzhou space shuttle
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid applauses and excited exclamations from the audience, a firework drawing portraying a train running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway lighted the Tian'anmen Square and dazzled all on the scene.
The firework drawing was displayed on a screen-like installation on the Square. Gunpowder was fixed on thousands of spots on the screen and were lighted in a preset order to "draw" pictures. Full story
Girl sends off wishes for homeland
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- As a six-year-old girl drew a flying dove of peace on her painting plate under the national flagon Tian'anmen Square, the second chapter of a grand gala in Beijing Thursday evening marking the 60th founding anniversary of New China unfolded.
The chapter is designed as an ode to the motherland of the Chinese and is considered the most romantic episode themed with peace and wishes for a bright future. It opened to the tune played by pianist Lang Lang and against the background of a gigantic "light cube". Full story
Ethnic unity highlighted at China's National Day evening gala
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic unity became a major theme of a grand gala in Beijing Thursday evening marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Dressed in traditional festive costumes of different ethnic groups, tens of thousands of performers danced joyously to the rhythm of famous folk songs of different ethnic groups on Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing.Full story
National Day evening gala warms up with song "I Love China"
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The grand National Day evening gala on Tian'anmen Square warmed up when about 60,000 people began dancing to the popular song "I Love China" Thursday evening.
At the center of the square, about 4,000 performers in a huge formation waved large peony bouquets and formed Chinese knots. When music changed, flowers and knots were suddenly replaced by an ocean of red ribbons. Full story
Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC
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