Red color is ubiquitous across China these days, as people are greeting the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic on October 1, hanging five-star red flags in almost every street and every community or village.
Five-star red flags flutter in Liujiapu, a 1,000-year-old village in Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi in north China.
Yan Qiumei, an 81-year-old villager, beams with joy as she walks from the fields to her yard.
"My granddaughter, a college student, is back home for the holiday. Rural tourism is thriving, and many tourists are willing to visit our village. I'm so happy about it!" Yan exclaimed.
At the Yiwu International Trade City in Zhejiang Province in east China, red color also dominates the decorations in the world's largest small commodities market. Many shops are pressed by clients' urgent orders to expedite shipments.
"We've sold about a million [national flags]. In terms of foreign trade, overseas Chinese placed orders several months in advance," said He Jinqi, a wholesaler at the Yiwu International Trade City.
From a bustling shopping plaza in central Henan's Zhengzhou city, to the Songhua River Bridge in northeast China's Harbin City of Heilongjiang Province, landmarks adorned with national flags frequently attract crowds, leaving behind smiles and cherished moments.
"I also bought a small national flag. As it flutters in the wind, I feel a surge of warmth in my heart," said Xie Chengrong, a visitor from southwestern Chongqing to the Songhua River Bridge.
At Beijing South Railway Station, the National Day-themed decorations draw passengers who stop to capture memories at popular photo spots.
"Seeing so many travelers stop here to take pictures, I feel very ceremonial. Sometimes, we need that sense of ceremony," said Han Wenwen, a passenger service clerk at the station.
Red color dominates Chinese National Day celebrations
