Scenes from the edges of parade
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China Daily, September 5, 2015
History made at Duanmen Gate
Qin Jize (reporter)
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However, my downbeat mood didn't last long, as the thick walls, though totally obstructing my view, offered me something very different - the perfect place to witness the receiving of heads of foreign delegations and their spouses.
As a diplomatic news writer, I have reported welcoming ceremonies on numerous occasions, but Thursday was shrouded in history in more ways than one. It was the first time the Forbidden City opened its doors to foreign dignitaries.
In the shimmering sunlight of a glorious Beijing summer morning, the distinguished guests, including the presidents of Russia and the Republic of Korea, went in turn through the Duanmen Gate on a red carpet leading to a room in a wing of the complex decorated with Chinese paintings that evoked another era.
President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan welcomed the guests at the entrance, shook hands, exchanged greetings and had photos taken with each of them.
After a brief gathering, they stood for a group photo. Duanmen served as a splendid backdrop ahead of the military parade.
The atmosphere, with reminders of the nation's cultural richness, made me realize that this was the highest honor China has offered to its guests who came to celebrate victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).
When I returned to the office, I checked a book and discovered that Duanmen, established in 1420, was one of the main gates of the royal palace in both the Ming and Qing dynasties. The tower at Duanmen once housed royal ceremonial articles.
It was officially opened to visitors in 1999, when the structure was restored, and became one of the best-preserved examples of ancient architecture in the Forbidden City. It soon became a major attraction for Chinese tourists, as the national flag guard is currently stationed on the north side of rooms on Duanmen's southern square. There is a daily changing of the guard and a flag-raising ceremony.
On a day that marked a major moment in history, the spot on which I was standing had its own historical resonance.
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