38 Comments Add your own

• 1. robbin forsyth  |  October 28th, 2010 at 7:31 pm

  A striking video clip. Visual elements, effects, soundtrack and production are well utilized.

  When I see this parade I get disoriented. I feel like I’m watching a 1962 May Day parade that’s been morphed through Youtube.

  The traditional communist, propaganda tools of military might and cult of personality, (picture of the Chairman Mao and 2:00 and then Chairman Hu Jintao at 2:40) are to be expected. However the amazing use of color is not expected. Red is the color of good fortune to the Chinese, but the contrast is extreme against the drab buildings and green military equipment. The government propaganda ministry has planned the details well. We are truly watching a neo-nationalist comming out party.

  Another interesting thing I see is a similarity to the USA circa 1955. There is growing prosperity in China, there is confidence and momentum. These are positives. The negative is that everyone in the video seems to be Han Chinese. Where are the other ethnic groups in the parade? Just as the USA government portrayed our country as happy, prosperous and white in the 1950’s. The Chinese government now shows the world only happy, prosperous and Han citizens. How long will this last?

• 2. Horizon Chaser  |  November 3rd, 2010 at 6:58 pm

  This video brings back memories of the ‘08 olympics opening ceremony. they certainly know how to impress an audience with well-coordinated numbers. it makes you wonder though, is there a complimentary weakness that goes along with this strength? can a nation/culture that produces such compliance also become a world leader in innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity? I know that when you have a gazillion people it shouldn’t be a problem to have plenty of both types of people. However, it seems to me that the two personality types are polar opposites and that a culture will ultimately reinforce one or the other. I’m curious to see how that is playing out during our trip.

• 3. J Hurley  |  November 27th, 2010 at 6:56 pm

  Those were some large portrait paintings! It is worth giving credit to the Chinese and their ability to put together large scale parades/demonstrations like this and the Olympics opening. You can tell that many of them put a lot of worth in their culture and country; however, it makes you wonder how the other 95% of the populations feels regarding the same topic.
  All in all though, impressive parade with some cool digital camo military vehicles and sharp colors to grab attention.

• 4. Anthony Kallioinen  |  December 6th, 2010 at 6:47 pm

  This video is stunning. I love the contrast of the time lapse and the slow motion, it really gets the viewer to focus and turns the piece into art. Chung says that he tried to do something different than the other photographers present and I think he succeeded.

  As to the parade, I don’t think anyone does such grand-scaled and well-choreographed displays of power as well as the Chinese. This parade was such a large military display signaling the strength of the country as well as its value of tradition. This parade also shows how far the communist party has taken China in the last 60 years. It is as important to note however what is not in the video as what is in the video….where are the people of China? The masses of ‘common’ people were not present indicating that this parade was more for communicating a message to the world than providing a celebration for the people of China.

• 5. Amanda Podesta  |  December 12th, 2010 at 9:22 pm

  If you want to see how well this parade was executed… have a look at a later entry by Dan Chung at http://vimeo.com/15788525 (which shows a North Korean military parade… in which not even Kim Jong Il looks excited about being there). Overall, what a way to impress people with a new meaning to “Made in China”!!

  At the same time, I was a little shocked somewhere between the howitzers and those intercontinental ballistic missiles: It may have been a 60th “anniversary” but it was all about celebrating the “China: Here and Now” rather than a celebration of a past.

  I thought it was interesting that there weren’t more grassroot celebrations (at least not evidenced in English media). When America celebrated its bicentennial in 1976 … or even just our annual Independence Day, aside from the obligatory pyrotechnics, there are parades and public celebrations across the nation in every city with everyone from the local marching band to the veterans’ groups involved. There doesn’t seem to have been any of that undercurrent evident in China either in this parade or amongst the people; though I’m willing to concede that it may be due to a cultural difference on the appropriateness of displays of individualism (?).

• 6. Randy Camat  |  December 15th, 2010 at 12:38 am

  The video was amazing. From the effects to the vibrant colors, the video did this ceremony justice. What stood out to me was the well was a choreographed parade showing a strikingly clean cut and powerful display of China’s military strength. I began to feel as if I was watching a documentary of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis as China’s military vehicles rolled by armed and ready for action followed by the tight structures of the military soldiers. I also began to wonder, if the U.S. spends way more on its military, how would the U.S. military look like if they are showcased on a similar parade? Overall, it seemed like a spectacular celebration.

• 7. Randy Camat  |  December 15th, 2010 at 12:40 am

  The video was amazing. From the effects to the vibrant colors, the video did this ceremony justice. What stood out to me was the well-choreographed parade showing a strikingly clean cut and powerful display of China’s military strength. I began to feel as if I was watching a documentary of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis as China’s military vehicles rolled by armed and ready for action followed by the tight structures of the military soldiers. I also began to wonder, if the U.S. spends way more on its military, how would the U.S. military look like if they are showcased on a similar parade? Overall, it seemed like a spectacular celebration.

• 8. Cassie Bettencourt  |  December 16th, 2010 at 12:41 am

  This parade seems to have covered most of the important aspects of Chinese nation - their culture, leader, military presence, and national pride. However, this clip being prefaced by the comment about the Chinese learning how to market themselves to the rest of the world makes me wonder if these aspects covered in the parade really do illustrate the most important aspects of the Chinese nation. It is hard to watch this video and separate it from the stories we all heard about the highly choreographed and highly controlled Olympic Ceremonies in 2008. Is this parade simply an extension of the country’s Olympic “agenda”?

  That being said, I would be proud watching my country pull off a 60th Anniversary National Day celebration like that. There seemed to be a lot of joy involved and a good representation of the different types of people that call China home…or at least the representation of people the country wants to share with the world. Either way, I’m sold.

  Overall, the video was well done, and the time lapse and slow motion photography was really interesting to watch. The vivid colors of the parade made the video extremely aesthetically pleasing. I felt that I was most drawn to the end of the clip when the focus was drawn to the Chinese flags. As Americans, we place a lot of importance on our flag and we use it as a symbol of pride and what our country stands for. Although China may stand for some different things, I’m sure the flag still has the same effect on its people.

• 9. Jessie Wilkie  |  December 16th, 2010 at 10:17 pm

  Props to Chung. He put together a video with beautiful cinematography and good use of closeups. I thought the parade was creepy and I did not like it. It reminded me of those old black and white videos of Nazi Germany. The opening of the parade was like “Don’t mess with us.” While China flexed its military muscle. The rest of the parade–the culture, the history, the family, and the tradition–was just an afterthought. The bottom line seemed to be military. Not even don’t mess, but we’ll mess with you. Also, modern China seems to worship the phallus as does every other patriarchal empire in history. This was captured by the shots of the missiles and the humiliating dress of the women soldiers. The sheer mass of people was another startling factor. This parade was just plain scary to me.

  Not a fan.

• 10. Chris Bruns  |  December 19th, 2010 at 6:58 pm

  I found the parade amazing, even without the artistic touches that the video and the music added. Besides the women soldiers in hot-pink uniforms and white boots, one of the things that really sticks with me is the sheer number of people organized and involved in this parade. Each marching section brought to life a different aspect of the country and all of the colors and choreography was amazing. Thanks to the video, the viewer is actually able to see the faces and expressions of those participating, and the human side of this huge event, which was one of my favorite parts.
  The time-lapse and slow motion of the video really helped focus and expand on certain parts of the parade. As with the military sections, the video effects allowed the subjects to resemble robots in the stiff, synchronized movement of marching or in the unflinching tank drivers. However, the parade sections with children and the individuals in white with red sashes were very alive and a stark contrast to the military sections. The musical score was well picked and executed as it mirrored the visual images perfectly. It began slowly with the set-up and crowd shots, built up towards the middle of the video, then faded out on the waiving flags of China. My overall impression of the video is that it did a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of being at this parade while allowing the director to add his artistic flourishes.

• 11. Sarah Weinzapfel  |  December 20th, 2010 at 12:24 pm

  Stunning. I loved what Chung did with the video. The slow motion and time lapse broke up the pace of the video and recapturing the viewers’ attention every time something changed. I thought the colors were amazing and just the amount of people involved alone said “power”.

  Without the comments preceding the video, I don’t think I would have had any second thoughts about their intentions or reasoning for organizing the parade the way they did. I would have just thought they were simply putting on a good show while celebrating their civilization. But then I started thinking about why they included the aspects they included. All of the military force, the normal citizens at the end of the parade, and almost celebrating what they are now instead of their journey to becoming what they are now.

  I feel like they convinced the people China that it was to celebrate China. While I’m sure it was a celebration, I also think they were just putting on a show for the rest of the world. An amazing show, however. I thought the parade as a whole was a little creepy, but the colors, masses, and synchronization were astounding.

• 12. Chris Carr  |  December 20th, 2010 at 12:33 pm

  @ Amanda –

  Dan Chung’s video of North Korea was fascinating. Thanks for the share. That is one place I would like to see in person in the future. What a mystery North Korea seems to be to most Westerners — even more so than China.

• 13. Tara Millard  |  December 27th, 2010 at 1:51 pm

  First and foremost, this video is striking. The organizational capabilities of Chinese culture seem to symbolize their power and potential as a nation. This video is full of contrasts, which highlight the diversity and unique nature of China. We see perfect organization as all soldiers arms move in perfect unison, and jet streams forms exact patterns in the sky. These aspects of the video portray China as a unified nation, in which individuals are merely pawns for this country.

  In contrast, we later see people dancing and children laughing. These individuals are not lacking structure, but rather express their individual feelings and desires while doing so. Although China tries endlessly to portray their nation as a single unity, yet this ever-expanding nation is full of individuals working towards personal rather than national goals.

  Overall, this video gives a 3 minute snapshot of China. It may seem merely a video of visual pleasure, but it serves a much larger purpose. This segment serves to show the successes, tensions, and possibilities that China faces.

• 14. Jessica Shayler  |  December 29th, 2010 at 1:35 pm

  I love bright colors, luxurious fabrics, coordinated movement, and surprising contrasts. This video clip has it all and it is set to a driving soundtrack. Loved it! It made me think of the “First Follower” clip we saw in Organizational Behavior with Dr. Coget. One person alone performing in a parade is merely a lone nut, but hundreds together is a powerful message and commands your attention and at least tacit support (you wouldn’t really want anyone to fall on their face, now would you?). I found myself wondering, though, how many followers are there of their own volition? Do they support the China they are representing? Are the unrepresented people unsupportive? Maybe I haven’t seen enough of the world or experienced enough personal tragedy to become jaded, but despite what I hate about China’s government, I find myself routing for their success.

• 15. David Hart  |  January 2nd, 2011 at 9:18 pm

  Wow–what an event! It must have taken a grand effort to organize so many people to be in the parade. When I think of China, I think of crowds of people. There were plenty of people shown in this video!

  This video shows shows China’s military muscle as well as interesting elements of the culture. Also, the Chinese do a great job of using bright colors to showcase their country. As I look back at having watched Chinese dancers at cultural events in the United States, I have always been impressed with the vibrant colors that they use.

  This was definitely quite a marketing effort. I wonder if the most Chinese people feel a sense of pride when watching such an event. Are they happy with the direction their country is headed? Do most Chinese feel a sense of national pride?

• 16. Brady Haug  |  January 3rd, 2011 at 9:03 pm

  The initial scene shown in the video reminds me of the vibrant colors you see entering Disneyland. It is clearly a great day of pride for the Chinese, as you see hoards people move around throughout the ceremony. If this is the China that the government wants the world to see, that have certainly shown their military might. The collection of tanks, vehicles, and missiles are awe inspiring but also are a little unnerving. The portion the video after the military display reminded me of Rose Bowl like parade. The video does not show the poor and polluted manufacturing country that so many people believe exists. I thought it was a great montage that showed the pride of the Chinese people. As Eli mentioned in his video, you see something new in China every day. For example the people walking with the mirrors gave a strobe light effect that I have never seen in parade. I also like the mix of modern and historical representation they portrayed in the festival. You see people in traditional Chinese dress and modern suits. While this video represents a view of China that all its people may have is debatable, it certainly does shown a place that one can’t help but want to visit.

• 17. Katie Moeller  |  January 4th, 2011 at 7:25 pm

  I absolutely loved this video. The sense of pride, accomplishment, and dedication of the country is present in this parade. I am blown away by the precision of every contributor. It does remind me of the Beijing Olympics. I cannot imagine the amount of time, energy, and money it took to coordinate this parade and the Olympics. I am a sucker for this type of stuff though since I have a background in dance and can appreciate the long hours of practice that is put in to achieve perfect execution. I would love to have the opportunity to see a parade of this magnitude in China.

  This parade makes a statement for China by showing its power. First, showing military force with the number of tanks and people holding guns. Second, the importance of the leaders of the country by showing large framed pictures. Third, the control the country has over its people.

  I do not believe the United States would have as much success with pulling off a parade like this due to lack of funds and control over its people.

  I was interested about looking into the details about the parade and found this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/30/china-national-day-parade-communism. It states how the soldiers in the parade are only permitted to blink once every 40 seconds. Also, there were enforced 12-hour rehearsals (I am sure multiple rehearsals at this length). Some parade contributors stated there were other ways of showing their love for their country than these time commitments. Interesting perspective from the public versus the government enforcement.

• 18. Tim Easton  |  January 5th, 2011 at 9:19 pm

  The video of the parade is stunning. Chung did a great job capturing each moment with his use of time-lapse and slow-motion. The music adds a dramatic effect that brings the viewer further into the video. The parade itself is amazing in the fact that everything is so well organized and on point. The sheer number of people and the display of the military power show the strength of the Chinese government. As Horizon Chaser said, this parade does remind me of the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics. The parade and the opening ceremony are both ways in which China is marketing itself to the rest of the world as a country of power in the future. My favorite part of the parade was the fly-over by the planes. I do not know much about Chinese culture and their parades, but the fly-over is something that I see as completely American. In the U.S. there is a fly-over for almost every major event, and it is very inspiring for those who are in attendance. Overall, the parade and the video were both great works of art.

• 19. Jason Jay Sharma  |  January 11th, 2011 at 3:17 am

  The color of this video was absolutely wonderful! The design of the video, itself, was amazing! Not much negative comment can be given regarding the execution of the parade–everything seemed to be to the tee. However, the introductory reference to China’s new found ability to market made me take quite a critical standpoint of the parade as I viewed it.

  There are a number of oddities that I cannot happen to look past. I first noticed that there wasn’t much of an actual national audience in the crowds around the parade. What I could mainly see were photographers with their cameras. This made me wonder if the parade was put on more for publicity or for the people. Second, the hoards of military men and women gave me an eerie WWII feeling. The fact there was so much focus on China’s arsenal made me wonder if this was a less of a marketing tool for China and more of a warning tool to nations that might underestimate China. Third, if I had to guess, I would say the group of men, women, and children that were focused on during the end of the video were trained and organized to smile and celebrate as they paraded. It’s a strange contrast to have the average Chinese person walk, but not be able to notice many in attendance watching the parade.

  To end on a positive note, if I were Chinese, I would feel a sense of pride in a parade that featured China as such a powerful nation. Following the century of humiliation, it is important to regain such national spirit, and it is done well here.

• 20. Kristine Spencer  |  January 11th, 2011 at 8:14 pm

  I was instantly struck by the unique way that Chung captured this parade. The masses of soldiers who march in unison is both beautiful and daunting. The soldiers’ movements are so precise and almost robotic, and they all move together spectacularly. The music is also somewhat mysterious but exciting. The first half of the parade, which I usually think of as fun and whimsical in the US, seems like more of an effort to show China as being a modern military powerhouse. The missiles being displayed, the jets flying in unison and tanks are all part of the questionable and fearful image that much of the US sees.

  I was relieved to finally see civilians and dancers marching in the parade with smiles on their faces. The contrast between the squares of white soldiers and the color of the dancers and other aspects of the parade reminded me of the intense mix of old and new in China. The colors, especially the women dressed in pink dresses, are a far cry from the days of the muted colors allowed in the Cultural Revolution. The parade was creative and celebrated Chinese culture and people. I especially liked when there was literally a sea of people and large boats seemed to sail down the street. It had its Communist touches, being the extremely large portraits of party leaders, but to me, the later part of the parade focused on many cultural aspects and had a message of unity, forward motion, and rising status of the country. I loved this video and think it gives an interesting perspective on China and their evolving government.

• 21. Chris Fung  |  January 12th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

  It was a beautifully captured event that Mr. Chung did with his camera and did represent another perspective that was different than just watching it via regular video. I have to say that the Chinese Communist Party has come a long way since the Cultural Revolution period where they rejected foreign influence in favor of drab socialism. Now with today’s modern free market reforms and the country open to expressing more to the world, we have what we see today in the video (at least a glimpse of it). I found it was really nothing different than parades in the U.S. ; we’re probably not as colorful or have the Soviet-era parading of that much military hardware. But if you have ever been to a China town in the U.S. and seen a Chinese New Year celebration, then the colors seen in the video are quite the norm.

  In terms of the message that the Chinese government is trying to send to the rest of the world, I do feel they market it quite well. In terms of military might, the Chinese have made great strides in military strength and technology. In recent news, they have even been thought to have developed a stealth fighter/bomber. In terms of the changes to its people, they have gain much in a very short time period. While they probably omit the masses of working class people (hey its marketing, put your best qualities up for review) I think the video is meant to show off their country and instill in the ordinary Chinese citizen a sense of pride and the great things that can and have been accomplished within the country. Every country will have their problems (as we here know as well), but just as we ponder what makes us “American,” this video and parade is mean to do the same for the Chinese.

• 22. Kyle Rowland  |  January 12th, 2011 at 9:26 pm

  This video does give off the grandeur the Chinese people exude. If its intention was to show power and unity, I think it is well served in this regard. I thought it was interesting how “shiny” all of the tanks and military equipment were, had that been a US parade they would have been tinged from actual use and not for pure showmanship. Interesting to see the females holding guns in skirts/shorts…seems like appropriate combat attire. Likewise, it all seems reminiscent of the beginning of the PRC and the idea that everyone should assimilate and be happy. I agree with Randy that it was reminiscent of one of Adolf Hitler’s parades…tanks, soldiers, weapons, etc. The parade seemed more a propaganda tool which has proved effective for China for many years.

• 23. Ashley Ogden  |  January 17th, 2011 at 5:25 pm

  It was a very cool video. Watching it made me want to be there at the parade. A lot of time and effort went into organizing this parade and it definitely paid off. I too liked the women in pink military gear; there was evidence of their marketing throughout the parade. I also liked their steel marketing with the construction hat-clad men waving around sheets of steel. They tried to highlight all the positive things that they have become in the last 60 years. It differed a lot from American parades I have seen; I have never seen so many people in sync for such a long time, amazing.

• 24. Tyler Sereno  |  January 19th, 2011 at 8:44 pm

  This video shows the pride that the Chinese people have in their country. The parade really emphasized the Chinese military with the tanks and the groups of military personnel marching in perfect unison. Everything was timed perfectly and extremeley well-organized. It was like everything was programmed and performed by machines. This is similar to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Everything is done in perfect unison and is very militaristic. It was like the Chinese government is trying to display power and show that they can be a military threat.

  The parade was really a site to see. The preparation and coordination involved was great. In addition to the military aspect of the parade, you can see the artistic side of the Chinese culture with the different sets of dancers and performers. It was very different from a national pride parade that you would see in the United States. You can see the differences between our culture and the Chinese culture.

• 25. Will Moeller  |  January 27th, 2011 at 11:30 am

  Everything looks more impressive in time lapse and when there’s also a catchy soundtrack that goes along with it. But this grandstanding would be impressive if seen live as well.

  What struck me about this is how vibrant everything was. It was a visual spectacle…the green army tanks, the symmetry of the marching troops, the colorful exhaust from the jets, and the children waving flags. I don’t have a mental picture of what Chinese cities were like in the pre-Mao era. But this event makes China look like any other cosmopolitan civilization on the globe. This IS my impression of China. I’m not old enough to remember it any other way.

  I also got the impression that China is very proud of its CCP leaders. Does America have parades where huge paintings of former Presidents are the focal point (D.C., New York?)? Not anywhere I’ve lived. It seems like the Chinese revere their leaders in almost a god-like way. Certainly America may remember its Presidents fondly, but not the same way China does (or so it seems).

  This video is great marketing for China as a whole.

• 26. Matt Streiter  |  February 2nd, 2011 at 4:59 pm

  The video is impressive . The colors and demonstration of the organized event created an image of China that I wouldn’t typically associate with the country. As much as it seemed as a celebration for China and a display of how they have modernized over the past decades, I believe the celebration was more of a message to those on the outside looking in. China trying to break away from their previous image of being weak and under-developed is questioned with this public event.

  The large amount of soldiers and tanks accompanied by missiles displays power and the ability to hold its own against other super powers. Furthermore, the perfect timing of the members of the parade could by a sign of unity among the Chinese citizens. At last the display of their past and current leaders show public approval of where the leaders are directing the country and its future.

• 27. Ben Raymond  |  February 7th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

  The entire parade was quite the visual display. The pin point precision and extreme organization of everyone involved reminded me of the Beijing opening ceremony. They are very disciplined in their choreography. The Chinese are not shying away from showing off bold colors and a powerful military arsenal.

  The time-lapse and slow motion of the video along with the soundtrack really helped to glorify the parade and help market China as a whole. I also found it interesting how they showcased their past leaders and honored them so highly to this day. This parade showed a China that has come along way from the China of old.

• 28. JP Salazar  |  February 24th, 2011 at 11:26 pm

  What an event! This parade shows a level of coordination, planning, and dedication that we are not used to seeing in the United States. Everything about the parade seemed like it was over the top. From the sheer size of it to the amount of color and imagery used.I thought it was very interesting to see the ordering of the parade route. I assume the purpose of the parade, in addition to celebrating the founding of the party, is to build a feeling of national solidarity and pride. They are trying to evoke a feeling by puting on a show. I found it very interesting that the parade was headed by a show of military might which was then followed by the more cultural asspects of the parade (dancers, homage to leaders, etc.). Here at home, grand parades, esspecially ones of tanks, missles, and troops, are nonexistent. To me, these things feel dated. At the same time, the grandness of the whole event has to be appreciated. The amount of time and commitment, namely the buy in needed from all of those involved is impressive. An event like this can not go on if the people involved do not believe in the message.

  This was a very interesting video. The uses of color, editing, and sound together worked well in presenting the parade. It worked in a way to enhance the message behind the parade. Everything looks more dramatic in time lapse. I think the creators were successful in showing the amount of pride the Chinese have in their fouding as well as showcasing how far they have come since that time.

• 29. J Vail  |  March 14th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

  The video footage was amazing; vibrant and on a scale I could only imagine beforehand. The usage of stop-motion photography was interesting, although speeding up and slowing down of what was going on was jarring over time. I thought it was an effective metaphor for the cultural state that China is in right now, with one foot in the present and one in the past. Although China is technologically advanced and becoming more involved in other cultures, the whole parade seems like a new coat of paint on an old house.

  Even though the colors were beautiful and all of the settings were elaborate, there was a very distinct sterile rigidity to everything. Every outfit is perfectly clean and identical. Every grouping of people has exactly the same number marching abreast, to the exact same pace. I also found it interesting that tanks and military equipment bookended the civilian marching. I think that while certain aspects of Chinese culture have changed, others are still embraced and displayed on the public stage.

• 30. Omar Pradhan  |  March 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm

  Awesome film clip!! I’m going to take my response in a different direction than most. I actually saw / bookmarked this exact video last summer while reading up on which DSLR camera and lenses to purchase prior to going on honeymoon. Dan Chung has a fantastic vimeo channel here (http://vimeo.com/danchung) and intro to his work here (http://vimeo.com/15956584). My wife and I ultimately went with two of the three cameras used to produce this film and we’ve been active co-creators of our digital memories ever since (http://www.youtube.com/user/pradhanos). What intrigues me is the degree to which ordinary people (like me) are increasingly becoming empowered to produce compelling media on their own. Dan Chung, the photojournalist extraordinaire behind this film, put it together with a couple thousand dollars worth of equipment (not tens of thousands of dollars as was required in years past). His film, no doubt, sends a message that the Chinese government endorses (proud, colorful, choreographed, etc.)… However, with continued technological innovation, video creation / production costs will continue to drop, enabling increasingly larger numbers of Chinese citizens / netizens to share their views / perspectives: good, bad and ugly alike.

• 31. Grant  |  September 29th, 2011 at 3:58 pm

  All I can think is, Don’t piss off China! Lincoln quoted the Bible when he said “A divided house can not stand”. I think the corollary is true and can be said for China. “A house undivided can withstand anything.”

  If China’s number one political goal is Unity, as stated in the TEDx video, then they are doing their job well, or at least portraying it by what they have shown in the parade.

  As someone who was in the military and having learned to march with precision and discipline, I must say that they have demonstrated their dedication to discipline and it communicates their commitment to unity and the role which China will fulfill in the world’s future.

• 32. Stephen Allison  |  October 9th, 2011 at 8:48 pm

  Awesome parade, I dig their style.

  I now want to buy an expensive camera for some reason…

• 33. Vladimir  |  December 13th, 2011 at 11:41 pm

  Lots of tanks and missiles. They definitely wanted to show their power. More airplane flybys would have been cool. The women in pink and white seemed out of place for military part 1, but since they had guns they wouldn’t quite fit into artistic part 2. Maybe they were there for the transitional effect between the two parts and to get people’s attention. Having both parts gave the world the message: Don’t mess with us, but we have an artistic, traditional side too.

  The video looked great, sped up so we could see more of the parade, but also slowed down so we could see the detail. I would also have liked to see a video in real time to hear the marching and accompanying music, if there was any.

• 34. Jeffrey Brown  |  December 18th, 2011 at 6:59 pm

  Wow, I think there were more people in the parade than there were watching it! Agreed that they are getting better at marketing, rather they are improving at the concept itself or appealing more to individuals in western societies such as ours is unbeknownst to me. Would the Chinese want to appeal more to western societies, and for what reason?

• 35. Kevin K.  |  December 19th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

  This video was beautifully put together. I loved the juxtaposition of China’s history — shown by dancing — and the raw power of military strengths.

  Tanks, missiles, gun toting go-go dancers, and ordinary citizens marching together surrounded by a sea of proud Chinese. Sounds odd, but is profoundly accurate in describing China. They certainly know how to present their strengths to the rest of the world.

• 36. Charles Dornbush  |  December 19th, 2011 at 2:07 pm

  The beginning of the video is what a Westerner would expect: tanks, missiles, thousand of soldiers marching in the street. Very much like we’ve come to expect from North Korea or the Soviet Union. But as the video progressed we see something different: vibrant colors, people dancing, girls carrying machine guns.

  I think this video represents China as a dichotomy: the strong, authoritarian state with the artistic, happy, creative people. This video represents everything that confuses Americans about China.

• 37. Daniel Fleek  |  December 23rd, 2011 at 3:13 pm

  Wow even in slow motion all those people in the parade were almost perfectly synchronized. I guess that’s kind of a sign to the world about China’s efficiency. I thought the time lapse sequence during the military march showed the vastness of their military and the slow motion sections showed their precision. All in all, great camera work.

• 38. Ashley Tyra  |  January 23rd, 2012 at 5:18 pm

  An amazing take on China’s 60th anniversary National Day parade. The time lapse video does a beautiful job of capturing the event in a unique way, which also helps boost China’s image.

  There are several moments in the clip where the parade looks almost toy-like. The slow motion additions of the tanks rolling by reiterate the role of China’s government. Amidst dancing and bright colors, the government’s presence still exists.

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