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Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the fireworks at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in Beijing. [Xinhua Photo]
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the fireworks named the "Footprints of History," symbolizing the pace of the successive summer Games, in the sky during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in Beijing. [Xinhua Photo]
Chinese national flag is hoisted aloft during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games held in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, in north Beijing, Aug. 8, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the shining Olympic rings on a huge LED screen, proclaiming the arrival of the Olympiad at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing. [Xinhua Photo]
The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games began in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing at 8 p.m. on Friday.
A formation of 2,008 young men controlled 2,008 Fou, an ancient percussion instrument of China with a 3,000-year history, all embedded with LED beads, to flash out the last seconds of the seven-year countdown to the Games, which started on July 13, 2001.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge rose from their seats in the VIP stand to wave to a cheering crowd in the full-packed stadium.
The formation of Fou beaters then started a thunderous welcoming ceremony, chanting Confucius' saying "How Happy We Are, To Meet Friends From Afar!"
Twenty-nine colossal footprints, created by firework explosions in the sky and symbolizing the successive summer Olympics, traveled all the way along the central axis of Beijing, from the ancient city gate of Yongdingmen in the south to the futurist steel-framed Bird's Nest.
Sparkles fell into the stadium and "lit up" a huge LED screen that showed the Olympic five rings. Embraced by "flying fairies" in shining costumes, the five rings, also made up with LED beads, were lifted in the air before the unbelieving eyes of some 91,000 spectators.
To the melodious rhythm of the song "A hymn to the motherland," the Chinese national flag was ushered in the stadium, and hoisted with the excited and proud home crowd singing the national anthem loudly.
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the art performance of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled "Beautiful Olympics," in the National Stadium. [Xinhua Photo]
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the art performance of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled "Beautiful Olympics," in the National Stadium. [Xinhua Photo
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the art performance of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled "Beautiful Olympics," in the National Stadium. [Xinhua Photo]
Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the art performance of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled "Beautiful Olympics," in the National Stadium. [Xinhua Photo]
Young men in grey robes prepare for the performance of 2,008 LED-embedded Fou, a 3,000-year-old percussion instrument similar to today's drum, to flash out the last seconds of the seven-year countdown to the Beijing Games in the National Stadium，Aug. 8, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]
Young men in grey robes switches on and off 2,008 LED-embedded Fou, a 3,000-year-old percussion instrument similar to today's drum, to flash out the last seconds of the seven-year countdown to the Beijing Games in the National Stadium, Aug.8, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]
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