Beijing Light Becomes Iconic Landmark for China's New Year Countdown Celebration

　　Beijing Light is the iconic landmark of Beijing's New Year countdown event and the year-crossing moment. Located at the China Millennium Monument, at midnight on New Year's Day, a light beam with a diameter of 11 meters shining into the night sky will become another year-crossing event that influences the world and represents the image of China, following the New Year's Crystal Ball drop countdown ceremony at New York's Times Square and the special New Year chimes of London's Big Ben.

　　The '2013 Beijing Light New Year Countdown Event' gathers the energy of the city, the energy of the world, and the energy of the spirit through different forms and carriers. The burst of positive energy gathering formed the protagonist of the evening, 'Beijing Light.' At the zero moment of the year-crossing, people can see this stunning 'Beijing Light' from different locations across the city. The main body of this art installation consists of two symmetrically arranged semi-circular plate frames facing each other in an east-west configuration, with three layers on each side, and the two frames are connected to each other, giving the entire installation a unique visual effect of division within unity and unity within division. From a bird's-eye view, the installation resembles Tai Chi, corresponding with the Qian-Kun (Heaven-Earth) body of the China Millennium Monument at the northern end, forming a visual echo and balance.

　　The entire event lasts about 40 minutes and is divided into four stages: awakening energy, activating energy, gathering energy, and transmitting energy. Amid lively DJ music on site, greetings from cities around the world, messages from the cities, and on-site blessings will become a gathering of positive energy. The China Millennium Monument will display different colors during these four stages. Finally, during the exciting New Year countdown, energy is transmitted from north to south through the light strips of the bronze corridor that records the history of Chinese civilization at the Millennium Monument, instantly illuminating the 'Beijing Light' that gathers energy and blessings. 'Beijing Light' makes a stunning appearance, creating a spectacle at midnight. At the same time, at the Great Bell Square of the Millennium Monument, guests and audience members on site will jointly strike the Century Bell to welcome the new year together and wish for the future.

If weather conditions permit, residents living within the Fourth Ring Road will be able to see this white beam of light reaching toward the sky. The "Beijing Light New Year's Eve Countdown Event" will continue to be held every New Year's Eve from now on.