Development for democracy: China's 60th National Day

LIU TONGBO trudged through Beijing looking for transport as the city centre shut down to make way for a stream of colourful floats, student performers and mobile missile launchers.

"I live in the suburbs but the tube isn't stopping in the city centre where I work, so I've been walking for 30 minutes," the 45-year-old businessman said as the capital launched its final dress rehearsal for a National Day parade.

Authorities are preparing for Thursday's grandiose celebrations of communist China's 60th birthday, deploying thousands of extra police and shutting down huge swathes of the city, for both rehearsals and the main event.

While many residents are excited by the mountains of flowers, giant red lanterns and national flags festooning the capital, others say they cannot wait for the once-a-decade patriotic party to end.

"I spent two hours trying to get home as I was stuck on the south side of the city and wasn't allowed across Chang'an Avenue," said Melody, 27, a Chinese entrepreneur who gave only her English name.

Chang'an Avenue cuts through the heart of Beijing from east to west and flanks Tiananmen Square, where the much-awaited October 1 military parade and mass pageant of song and dance will take place.

A total of 8,000 tanks and floats portraying China's achievements over six decades will roll along the avenue Thursday, as 200,000 soldiers and citizens march in honour of the People's Republic.

Some hotels on the street have been forced to close for four days, and residents like Melody who live in flats on the route have been ordered to obey strict rules, such as a ban on opening their windows.

"You can't go out on the balconies, and no guests are allowed from September 30 to October 1," she said.

Other Beijingers, like student Wang Tongyu, 23, expressed joy over the upcoming festivities. "The last time there was a parade was in 1999, when I was just 13," Wang said. "Now, seeing this 10 years later, I can see just how much I've developed along with the country."

But the flowers and banners have come with stern security measures in this city of 17 million people.

Vehicles coming in and out of the capital are monitored, subway lines and roads have been closed with little warning, and security has been stepped up at sites such as Tiananmen Square and train stations.

Police have also started nighttime armed patrols to avoid any disruption of the celebrations.

"This is a Chinese habit. When they (authorities) want to do something, they want it 100 per cent and they guarantee nothing happens (to disrupt it)," said Liu.

And so the city centre has been shut down several times to make way for several huge parade dress rehearsals. The closures caused such chaos that authorities cancelled a final practice run that was scheduled for Saturday.

Beggars and homeless people are being cleared out in the run-up to the anniversary, and knife sales have been temporarily banned after two stabbing attacks took place south of Tiananmen Square despite a heavy security presence.

Beyond the celebrations and accompanying security, China's state television channels and official newspapers are awash with stories about National Day preparations and galas celebrating 60 years of development.

"It's too much but it's also normal. Sixty years are important in China, and the Chinese are very sentimental," said Liu, referring to the tradition of big celebrations.

Further afield, ships carrying dangerous goods are to be banned from going through the Three Gorges Dam in central China for 10 days, and Beijing's airport will close for three hours during the parade.

Residents living near Tiananmen Square must use a special pass.

But for Liu, one of the security measures is most welcome. "From September 29, offices along Chang'an Avenue where I work will have to close, so I get a total of 10 days' holiday for National Day," he said with a smile.

AFP