60th Anniversary Celebration and Parade - watch live online now . . .

[roddy]

But you'll miss all the lyrics about increased harvests. Oh, I get it, you're reading the subtitles.

It really is full-on, there seem to be eight different dances going on at any one time.

[889]

" . . . especially with the sound turned off."

Yes, after a while -- like 30 seconds -- those piercing songs start to get to you, don't they.

[gato]

They've been practicing for months. All volunteers, of course.

See how the North Koreans compare in this video of North Korean military parade. A lot more low-budget, it seems, though their TV announcers make up for that somewhat with their passion.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjAzMzA2MA==.html

朝鲜阅兵

[realmayo]

yep, there's a type of singing that always seems to be done at these official things, like some uninspired third-rate Western opera, that I can't stand. But the more old-fashioned stuff, and the more modern poppy music, I'm ok with! though I'm hardly the target audience....

[realmayo]

did you just see Jiang looking uncomfortable, and a woman in white run up behind him ... the camera cut away quick..

[self-taught-mba]

Did anyone just see JZM almost fall out of his chair? An aid came running. Camera cut away. Maybe he just wanted a look at a meinv?

[realmayo]

hope the big guy's ok....

[roddy]

He's 83, been a long day. Haven't been watching closely, but I saw some shots of the podium and while I didn't see him nobody looked panicked.

[self-taught-mba]

Smiley faces?--just because you can doesn't mean you should . . .

[self-taught-mba]

He's 83, been a long day. Haven't been watching closely, but I saw some shots of the podium and while I didn't see him nobody looked panicked.

Thought he was going to fall out of his chair actually. But meinv do that to me also.

[gato]

But meinv do that to me also.

What's meinv?

[realmayo]

ah, he looks ok.

[roddy]

There he is - looks a bit tired, but he's got some primary school kids to support him.

[anonymoose]

Don't worry, 老江's OK

[roddy]

God, it's a real day out for that lot, isn't it . . .

[self-taught-mba]

Yep, he seems fine now. Not rhythm wise but otherwise ok....

[realmayo]

Wen is the only one who looks remotely comfortable doing the holding hands dancing thing. Oh, and Jiang too.

[self-taught-mba]

meinv = 美女

[roddy]

Jiang Zemin - he's the Bill Clinton of Asia, y'know.

Are they on the roof of the Great Hall? That'd be some view . . .

[self-taught-mba]

Wen is the only one who looks remotely comfortable doing the holding hands dancing thing. Oh, and Jiang too.

Yeah well, did you see who he got to hold hands with? That'd put pep back in me at any age.

Gato you are now Chinese. You no longer see Pinyin.