The 2004 Athens Olympic Games has been widely acclaimed as a huge success, with a French newspaper describing its opening ceremony as "a magical night." Then, what shape is the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic going to take? And what will China use to surprise the world?

The answers to these questions can be sought by looking at the history of the Chinese way of celebrating their prosperous and peaceful times, which is invariably associated with the hanging of red lanterns and playing of drums. It is a typical way for the Chinese to express their national feelings by beating drums.

Will Drums Be Adopted in Beijing 2008?

The Yellow River valley played an essential role in the formation of the Chinese civilization. Archaeological evidence shows that, as early as 1.1 million years ago, Chinese ancestors -- the Lantian people, Dali people, and others -- began to live in the area. From the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600BC), most dynasties chose to establish their capitals in the Yellow River valley. This accounts for the fact that throughout history this area has been China's political, economic, and culture center.

The history of the Yellow River civilization serves as the background against which the drum culture evolved. The earliest recorded drum, with a leather drumhead and a grass drumstick, was for sacrificial use. Later, both the variety and functions of drums increased, to such a degree that it is now difficult to count the exact number of the types of local drums.

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