Thousands of Chinese waving national flags and chanting "Go China!" thronged main Beijing streets on Friday, greeting the opening of the Olympic Games with a huge outpouring of national pride.
While the opening ceremony in the main Bird's Nest stadium may have been all about world harmony, the message on the streets was about patriotism, with the Chinese red flag much more in evidence than those with the Olympic logo.
"We want to show the world the real China, because a lot of people don't understand our country and try to demonise it," said Wan Qian, 23, with red "I love China" stickers plastered on her face and T-shirt, watching the ceremony on an outdoor screen.
Many people wore T-shirts emblazoned with logos in Chinese or English, some reading "Listen to China's voice" and "I love China now more than ever".
Liu Changqing said he was doing a roaring business selling Chinese flags near Tiananmen Square, whereas flags with the Olympic rings or Beijing Games' logo weren't selling nearly as well.
"Of course it's the red flag that sells best. This is all about patriotism," he said.
That was a message echoed by many on the streets who had decided they wanted to show their support in public rather than watching the ceremony at home or in a hotel.
"It's a rare opportunity to get out like this, to get out and take part in the fun," said Wang Fang, a woman buying her child a clutch of red Chinese flags. "These are China's Olympics, so of course we want to hold the Chinese flag."
In the fashionable Wangfujing shopping district, the crowd roared out its approval every time Chinese President Hu Jintao appeared on an outdoor screen, and gustily joined in when the national anthem was played. "The Olympics is about showing the world our new economic power and our pride in our country," said banker Gary Tang, holding aloft an enormous Chinese flag.
Many others took to the area near Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of China and staging ground for a pro-democracy movement violently crushed in June 1989. (Reuters)
"It feels great to be here. There's a very thick air of patriotism in the square tonight and I think that's the way it should be," said Man Nina, a college student hosting two friends who had come to Beijing for the first time from southern China.
Crowds pressed six deep along the streets leading to the square, to catch a glimpse of the fireworks at the end of the ceremony. "I'm ecstatic, I'm beside myself," said Song Yujuan, a young woman in her 20s. "The Olympics are glorious for China."