My Journey

From Beijing to Hong Kong and everywhere in between, October 1st will see massive celebrations for the 60th National Anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China. Its set to be the longest "Golden Week" holiday yet in China, from October 1st to 8th, as the National Day celebrations are combined with the Mid-Autumn Festival to create an eight day holiday...

After all there is a lot to celebrate, maybe the greatest story of social transformation the planet has ever seen! These six decades has seen China go from a closed, poor society with common place famine to what it is today; a true world power, its people fed, increasingly prosperous and for the most part happy.

Major cities across the country will hold there own locally organised celebrations, but nothing will compare to what the capital have lined up - a few details of which is still being kept under wraps! Some are saying it could "make North Korea's Mass Games seem like a junior high talent show".

Highlights in Beijing will include...

- Decorations across the city, Chang'an Ave and Tian'anmen Square have taken weeks to erect. From potted flower (40 million of them!) lined streets to the 56 grand red columns now standing in Tian'anmen square. (Which represent the 56 different ethnicities in China) 

- The film release of "The Great Cause of Chinaís Foundation", a 30 million Yuan (3 million Euro) blockbuster depicting the revolution that swept the communists to power.

- The Great Hall of the People on Tian'anmen Square, will hold a grand musical, with a cast of 3200, called "Road to Revival" depicting the past 169 years of Chinese history from the Opium War to the present.

- It wouldn't be China if it didn't include a spectacular fireworks display!

- President Hu Jin Tao will give a speech on Tian'anmen Gate, the same spot Mao announced the People's Republic Of China 60 years earlier.

- And don't forget the grand parade. Military hardware and goose-stepping troops will pass the huge portrait of Chairman Mao and a sea of frantically waved red flags. Right behind them will be 200,000 citizens and 60 floats, in a mass pageant, themed "Motherland and I Marching Together".

Of course security is tight, checkpoints have been open across the city for over a month as more than 7,000 police officers are on patrol in the capital. The counter-terrorism forces that made Beijing so difficult to get around during the Olympics will be back. Police forces across China are ready to ensure the celebrations proceed safely and smoothly.

Not even the weather is being left to chance, cloud-seeding jets and artillery with silver iodine rockets are ready to banish any clouds that threaten to rain on the parade. Next stop Expo 2010 in Shanghai.