A gala, gathering more than 800 children from Beijing, was staged at the National Center for the Performing Arts in the capital on the nights of Wednesday and Thursday to mark the 71st anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Organized by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, choirs from over 20 middle schools in Beijing shared the stage to perform songs such as Growing Up With the Motherland and The Beautiful World.

Besides the choirs, the audience also enjoyed programs featuring dances and Peking Opera, performed by art troupes, including a percussion troupe affiliated to the Beijing Chinese Orchestra, a martial arts team from Beijing Haidian District Shuangyushu No 1 Primary School and the drama troupe of Tsinghua University Primary School.

"We spent about three months preparing for the gala, which aims at educating children with the arts as well as sending our best wishes on the country's birthday," says the gala's director Meng Yan. "There are many young people learning musical instruments, singing in choirs and practicing various kinds of art forms. They enjoy arts from a young age, which is great for their future."

Meng adds that to pay tribute to the people who fought on the front line against COVID-19, the organizers also invited medical workers from Beijing to enjoy the show. Those medical workers went to work in hospitals of Wuhan, Hubei province, the hardest-hit city in China, during the outbreak.

"When people across the country celebrate the National Day holiday, we want to express our gratitude to those medical workers in particular," Meng adds.

The Soong Ching Ling Peace Angel Arts Troupe performed the opening song, The Beautiful World. According to Zhang Xin, deputy director of the art center of China Soong Ching Ling Science and Cultural Center for Young People, the organizers of the choir, 26 children performed in the show and rehearsals started on Oct 2.

"All the children spent the past week together rehearsing. It's a great opportunity to perform at such a big and grand stage," says Zhang, adding that the choir, which was launched three years ago, has performed at the NCPA on three occasions. "Those children, who had to stay at home for about eight months during the pandemic, were eager to meet their friends in the choir and to sing together."

Zhang also adds that by offering art education, all children get a chance to stimulate their imagination, as well as improve their teamwork and communication skills.

"I love singing with the other members in the choir. Though it was a busy holiday, which was fully occupied with rehearsals, I felt excited and proud. I enjoyed the moment when we performed on the stage under the spotlight together," says Wang Like, a 13-year-old member of the troupe.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn