A solemn flag-raising ceremony was held Thursday morning on Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing to mark the 60th birthday of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The national flag with five stars on a red background was designed in 1949 by Zeng Liansong. The five-point yellow stars are in the upper left-hand corner, with four smaller yellow stars forming a crescent next to a larger star.

The red symbolizes revolution. The larger star represents the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the four smaller ones stand for the Chinese people. Together they represent the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC.

The national anthem was originally called "March of the Volunteers," a song for the film "Fengyun Ernu" or "Chinese Young Heroes and Heroines in Stormy Years" in 1935, with lyrics by poet Tian Han and music by Nie Er, a famous composer.

The song won huge popularity after its release, inspiring patriotism and courage among the Chinese during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945).

The work to solicit the design of the national flag, as well as national anthem and emblem, began three months before New China was founded on October 1, 1949.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)