The Carnival began in the Beijing International Sculpture Park on Friday night, attracting many people to its multitude of fun and games. Beijing residents crammed into the park. 

Beijing residents crammed into the park despite a slightly exorbitant ticket price of 50 yuan.

2.5 million visitors are expected to take part in the carnival which will last 52 days in total. This figure is 300,000 up on the number of people who visited the Shanghai show last year, the carnival's first appearance in China.

(CRI July 3, 2004)