Snapshots of 2024

The flag's echo

Yuan Lixue Beijing

At the end of September in Beijing, when the weather was turning a bit chilly, many people were still eager to line up at dawn just to witness the flag-raising ceremony in person.

After passing through security, everyone rushed toward Tian'anmen Square to find the best spot. My boyfriend and I hurried to the front and, along the way, we saw an elderly woman, probably in her 70s, running alongside us.

As the sky brightened, the square grew quieter, and all eyes turned to the flagpole. When the national flag began to rise, my eyes welled up. I had seen this moment countless times since childhood, but this time — on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China — it felt like a much more profound experience.