Tiananmen Flag Raising: Thousands brave winter cold to watch ceremony

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With every start to the new year comes the time-honored flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Tens of thousands came out, some even before midnight to witness the spectacle. CGTN's Mark Fontes recaps a patriotic morning for Beijing and beyond.

The first sunrise of 2018 brought with it China's first chance to see its Five Star Red at Tiananmen Square. Throngs of people braved the sub-zero temperatures for hours, some of them repeat visitors, and some coming from far outside Beijing.

WANG YAN FROM WUHAN CITY "This is my first time seeing the national flag raising in Tiananmen Square. I'm so excited about it."

LI JING WAN YANG'S MOM "I was here 20 years ago for this. There weren't as many people as right now. Seeing this makes me feel my country is stronger than ever."

Bunching together for extra warmth, spectators felt the love for China beating in every heart, including their own.

WANG YUHAN FROM BEIJING "I'm so proud of my country, especially when I see the flag raising. It's so amazing."

MARK FONTES BEIJING The crowds as you see behind me easily in the tens of thousands. Everyone with their selfie sticks, cameras, phones high in the air. Security having to hold them back as the eagerness and anticipation very very high. Everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of this auspicious moment.

The flag was hoisted at exactly 7:36 a.m. with People's Liberation Army troops taking over as flag guards and canon firers, duties previously handled by the Chinese Armed Police. Yet members of all of China's armed forces branches were on hand faithfully carrying out service to their country, and looking over their civilian counterparts.

LIN MING FROM FUJIAN PROVINCE "Last time I came, I had a better spot. But I still feel the grand atmosphere of the ceremony. My girlfriend and I had a great time."

LUO JIE SHI JIAZHUANG CITY "This is my first time seeing the flag raising ceremony in person. It's a dream come true. I feel like it's a new generation for China."

China's National Flag Law adopted in 1990 holds that schools, border checkpoints and government agencies must raise the flag every weekday. They now have a banner example to follow for 2018. Mark Fontes, CGTN, Beijing.