BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- As this year's National Day celebrations are over, the 56 columns of ethnic unity will be removed from Tian'anmen Square in Beijing by the end of 2009, according to officials here.

    These columns will be moved from the square to the Beijing Olympic Park to be near the National Stadium and National Aquatics Center, said a spokesman with the park.

File photo taken on Sept. 14, 2009 shows the array of Columns of Ethnic Groups Unity, on the east side of Tian'anmen Square, in Beijing. A total of 56 Columns of Ethnic Groups Unity, one of the landmark decorations for the grand celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, start to be installed. Each column stands at a height of 13 meters and weighs 26 tons, depicting the vivid figures of each ethnic group's people in festival attirements who are singing merrily and dancing gracefully. (Xinhua File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The columns of Chinese red and golden patterns were erected along both sides of the Tian'anmen Square to symbolize the unity of China's 56 ethnic groups as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

    Earlier reports had suggested that the columns may permanently stay in the Tian'anmen Square.

    Chen Wei, art director of the anniversary parade, was quoted by the Beijing Morning Post as saying the columns are very likely to stand on the square forever on Oct. 6.

    The committee is consulting experts to decide details about the move, including the exact locations where the columns of 20 tonnes each will stand, the spokesman said.

    The removal of the columns will not damage the ground surface of Tian'anmen Square, said a manager, who declined to be named, from Beijing Uni-Construction Group who built the columns.