Time set for Tian'anmen Square National Day gala

The grand evening gala celebrating the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China will begin at 8 pm on Oct 1 in Tian'anmen Square, an organizer has said.

The gala is divided into four performance zones and will last 90 minutes, Pang Wei, executive deputy director of the performances department of the grand evening gala headquarters, said at a news conference Wednesday.

A total of 3,290 people will hold light screens to participate in the performance, which is to be set for south of Jinshui Bridge and will highlight great Chinese achievements over the past decades, Pang said.

With nearly 40 classic songs, another 3,650 people in the same area will perform from different regions across the country at the same time, she said.

Meanwhile, there will also be many people from various walks of life divided into 10 parts on both sides of the themed performance zone to show the sense of fulfillment, pride and happiness of Chinese residents through dance, she said.

Firework shows will help play up the atmosphere of the grand evening gala, she said.

Besides the performance on the ground, a performance platform will be also set south of the themed performance zone, according to her.

"On the platform, 2,502 people from Beijing's three districts and Wushu (martial arts) schools will demonstrate kung fu, while 16 symphony orchestras with 1,028 players and a chorus of 1,400 students will sing for the gala," she said.

"Such a large scale of symphony orchestra and chorus performing at the same time on a platform can be said to be a world first," she said.

She also said that advanced technologies will be used for improving lighting on buildings around the square, including the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum.

The grand evening gala has been rehearsed three times – Sept 8, 15 and 22 – "and we'll make full preparation to bring a world-class and best historical performance to public," Pang said.