China prepares for its 60th anniversary
中国六十年大庆前期准备 Chinese citizens and government workers have been preparing for months for their upcoming celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st. Parts of Beijing have been shut down several times, allowing for rehearsals of a once-in-a-decade military parade, multiple artistic performances and shows, fireworks and more. Security concerns are high as well, bringing out large details of security personnel and equipment. Collected here are images from the past several weeks of people around China preparing to celebrate their National Day.
1Workers renovate a statue of China's late chairman Mao Zedong at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, September 16, 2009. Statues and monuments around the country are being renovated and updated in preparation for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.
2Chinese government workers dressed in traditional costumes take part in a competition of singing patriotic songs in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Thursday Sept. 17, 2009.
3A chef makes a cake in the shape of Beijing's * Gate in Suining, Sichuan province September 18, 2009, to celebrate China's upcoming 60th anniversary.
4The National Grand Theatre stands surrounded by water in central Beijing September 17, 2009. The theatre is lit by coloured lights in preparation to celebrate China's National Day in October.
5Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) heavy tanks prepare to make their way on to the main east-west thoroughfare, the Avenue of Heavenly Peace, in Beijing on September 18, 2009, as the government rehearsed for a huge October 1st parade that will mark 60 years since the founding of Communist China. Security swarmed the Avenue of Heavenly Peace, shooing citizens away from what will be the parade's route through the heart of the city and past * Square.
6A man rides a bicycle past the National Unity Poles, which have been named and decorated for October's 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing's * Square September 17, 2009.
7Performers practice for Beijing's 60th Anniversary celebrations at a training camp on the outskirts of Beijing, China on Sept. 16, 2009. Official celebrations will be held in China on Oct. 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
8A Chinese military tank heads towards * Square where a rehearsal for China's 60th anniversary will be held in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Authorities shut down a major part of central Beijing to conduct the rehearsal for the parade.
9Chinese military vehicles are parked on Changan Ave. near * Square during a rehearsal for a ceremony marking China's 60th anniversary in Beijing, China, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009.
10People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers perform during a rehearsal of a musical drama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 17, 2009. The musical drama is part of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in October.
11Participants rehearse on one of the National Day floats in Beijing on September 16, 2009.
12A police anti-explosive container is placed on the platform at a metro station in Beijing on August 19, 2009. Beijing police will step up their anti-terror efforts ahead of the 60th anniversary on October 1 of the founding of communist China, with more street patrols and checkpoints, state media said.
13Workers assemble decorative floats for China's National Day parade at an open area near a sports centre in Beijing on August 27, 2009. China has begun a security clampdown to prevent any disturbances to what it intends to be a glorious celebration of the day 60 years ago when Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China.
14A worker rests on a chair before the rehearsal of a cantata at the Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai September 16, 2009.
15Paramilitary policemen take part in an oath-taking rally to ensure the safety of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing September 1, 2009.
16Workers sew Chinese national flags at a factory on the outskirts of Beijing, September 4, 2009. Demand for the flags is increasing as people prepare for the 60th anniversary celebration.
17Performers take part in a chorus performance of patriotic songs involving 10,000 participants held at a gym in Beijing, China, Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009.
18Participants stand in form in a boulevard leading to * Square in Beijing during a rehearsal for the 60th anniversary parade August 29, 2009.
19A woman makes a frame for a traditional-style lantern at a workshop in Hongmiao village on the outskirts of Beijing, September 1,2009. The villagers are producing tens of thousands lanterns, which will be used to celebrate China's 60th anniversary.
20A couple take wedding pictures in front of the * Gate on September 8, 2009 in Beijing, China. Many people are expected to hold their wedding on National Day.
21Members of China's Air Force battalion march as they rehearse for the National Day parade in Beijing on September 10, 2009.
22Chinese soldiers practice marching at a camp in Beijing, China, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.
23A member of China's first class of women fighter pilots prepares to board her aircraft during a ceremony with new flight gear designed for women, at a People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force base in Beijing on August 30, 2009. The pilots will make their debut during the upcoming National Day Parade. China could launch its first woman into space as early as 2012, the candidate being chosen from this group.
24Chinese hairdresser Huang Xin works on his latest art piece, a replica of The National museum of China, made from human hair, at his barbershop in Beijing September 9, 2009. Huang uses human hair to make replicas of iconic Chinese buildings and items, such as the * gate and The Great Hall of The People, since early 2008.
25In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, soldiers take part in an exercise for the military parade at an airport of People's Liberation Army in Beijing Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009.
26A group of women from a Chinese militia batalion prepare for a marching drill as they rehease for the National Day parade, in Beijing on September 7, 2009.
27Pupils create the national flag on a canvas by using their hands dipped in red paint at a primary school in Jinan, Shandong province September 14, 2009.
28An officer sticks a needle in the collar of a paramilitary policeman to correct his posture during a training session in Hefei, Anhui province September 13, 2009.
29Policewomen on horseback stand guard in a line outside the World Expo Center, in China's port city Dalian September 11, 2009.
30A giant float highlighting China's space program moving towards * Square for a major rehearsal ahead of the 60th National Day celebrations in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009.
31Thousands of participants rehearse a formation on * Square in Beijing on September 12, 2009 for the National Day pageant.
32Students from a martial arts school jump with spring-loaded stilts over a giant national flag during a rehearsal of celebrations to commemorate China's National Day, at the school in Dengfeng, Henan province September 16, 2009.
33People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers perform a dance featuring Long March during a rehearsal of a musical drama entitled "The Road of Revival" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 14, 2009.
34Thousands of participants rehearse a formation on * Square in Beijing on September 12, 2009 for the National Day pageant.
35Chinese military singers take part in a chorus performance of patriotic songs involving 10,000 participants held at a gym in Beijing, China, Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009.
36A couple kiss as workers test the lights at the Great Hall of the People at the * Square on September 8, 2009 in Beijing, China.
37A man gets a haircut featuring * Gate at a barbershop, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Zhengzhou, Henan province September 15, 2009. |
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