Happy National Day everybody! Today is National Day, for on October 1, 1949 Mao Zedong and his Communist Party founded the People's Republic of China and brought this great country under tyrannical communist control... let us all rejoice!
Everyone gather together and celebrate Chairman Mao's "Great Leap Forward" program in which Mao's government took control of all industries to improve social and economic harmony, only to fail miserably and starve an estimated 49 million citizens. And let's not forget the Cultural Revolution which purged China not only of foreign cultural and religious influences, but destroyed Chinese culture and religions as well. So yes, let's gather round and celebrate because National Day is here.
So National Day is part of Golden week, where the Chinese now work Saturday and Sunday and then get Monday through the following Sunday as vacation time off.
So literally millions come to the big cities like Shanghai to shop and tour. We went out to give Mom & Dad a glimpse of what big crowds really look like! Dad is taking a video with his camera of us with the girls in the stroller as people came by to see, touch, and take pictures of the foreign kids when all of a sudden a fireworks show started at the base of the Pearl Tower where we were. So we got a nice, and unexpected, front-row view for a 15-minute fireworks show. Here's a cropped 1-minute video of the action:
Happy National Day everybody!
3 comments:
Are you sure all those fireworks were authentic? No CGI ones snuck in? Ha, ha. That was a delightly witty post that I have passed on to several friends. I really enjoy these little commentaries on a country so different from the one I enjoy (meaning Texas). In case I hadn't introduced myself before (because I can't remember if I ever actually commented), I'm Terri's sister, Siouxsie. I met Morgan once when she came to visit. It's really so interesting and entertaining to read ya'll's adventures so thanks for sharing.
I like the fireworks show. What an interesting event to celebrate, but at least the fireworks are neat and the Chinese get vacation.
HAPPY NATIONAL DAY in China!!!
i agree with Siouxsie (Suzie), China is much different and it's so interesting to hear about it from people who live there.
My mother-in-law was wondering, do you guys live on base or where are you living? I wasn't sure and thought I'd ask. Also, why exactly are you living there? She asked me that too and I realized I didn't know for sure.
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